Bill of moderate length, straight, slender, a little broader than high
at the base, compressed toward the end; upper mandible with the dorsal
line sloping, a little convex toward the end, the nostrils slight, the
tip acute; lower mandible with the angle rather long and narrow, the
dorsal line ascending and scarcely convex, the edges somewhat
involute, the tip acute. General form slender; head ovato-oblong; neck
short. Feet of ordinary length, slender; toes very slender, the
lateral equal, the outer adherent at the base, the hind toe rather
large; claws rather long, arched, compressed, acute, that of the hind
toe generally very long. Plumage soft and blended. Bristles small.
Wings long and pointed, one of the minor secondaries often much
elongated and tapering. Tongue sagittate, slender, with the tip slit;
œsophagus uniform; stomach a very muscular gizzard, roundish, with
large tendons, and thin rugous epithelium; intestine of moderate
length; cœca very small. Trachea simple, with four pairs of
inferior laryngeal muscles.
This family is connected with the Turdinæ by _Seiurus_, and with the
Alandinæ by _Anthus_, which are the only two American genera.
GENUS I. SEIURUS, Swains. WOOD-WAGTAILS.
Bill rather short, straight, slightly broader than deep at the base,
compressed toward the end, the edges a little inflected, the dorsal
lines of both mandibles slightly convex, the notches very slight, the
tip acute. Nostrils basal elliptical. General form slender; head
ovato-oblong. Feet of ordinary length; tarsus slender, compressed,
covered anteriorly with a long undivided piece and three inferior
scutella; toes of moderate length, slender; the first a little stouter
than the third, the inner slightly shorter than the outer, which is
adherent at the base; claws of moderate length, very slender, much
compressed, moderately arched, acute. Plumage soft, blended. Bristles
very small. Wings of moderate length; the first or outer quill little
shorter than the third, which is longest. Tail of moderate length,
even.