CHAR. Bill slender, conical, nearly as high as wide at the base, with
slight notch at the tip; the culmen slightly concave above the
anterior extremity of the nostrils; short bristles at gape, which,
however, do not extend forward to nostrils. Loral feathers soft and
dense, but with bristly points; nasal groove filled with naked
membrane, with the elongated nostrils in lower edge; the frontal
feathers coming up to the aperture, but not directed forward nor
overhanging it. Wings lengthened and sharp-pointed; the primaries nine
(without spurious first), of which the first three to five,
considerably longer than the succeeding, form the tip; the exterior
secondaries generally much emarginated at the ends; the inner
secondaries (so-called tertials) nearly equal to the longest
primaries. The tail rather narrow, emarginate. Tarsi lengthened,
scutellate anteriorly only, the hind claw usually very long, acute,
and but slightly curved (except in _Motacilla_). Inner toe cleft
almost to the very base, outer adherent for basal joint only.
The combination of naked nostrils, notched bill, and nine primaries,
with the tarsi scutellate anteriorly only, will at once distinguish
the _Anthinæ_ of this family from the _Alaudidæ_, which they so
closely resemble in coloration, habits, and lengthened hind claw. The
lengthened, slightly curved hind claw, much pointed wings, emarginated
secondaries,—the inner ones nearly as long as the primaries,—distinguish
the family from the _Sylvicolidæ_, with which also it has near
relationships.
Subfamilies and Genera.
Motacillinæ. Tail longer than or equal to wings; the two central
feathers rather longer than lateral; the feathers broadest in
middle, whence they taper gradually to the rounded tip. Colors
uniform: gray, black, yellowish; without pale edges to feathers
above, or streaks below.
Tail from coccyx considerably longer than the wings, doubly
forked. Hind claw shorter than the toe; decidedly curved …
_Motacilla._
Tail from coccyx equal to the wings, slightly graduated. Hind
claw decidedly longer than the toe, slightly curved … _Budytes._
Anthinæ. Tail shorter than the wings, emarginate at end, the two
central shorter than lateral; the feathers broadest near the end,
and rounding rapidly at end. Above grayish-brown, the feathers
edged with paler. Under parts streaked.
Wings much pointed and lengthened.
Hind toe and claw shorter than tarsus; outstretched toes
falling short of tip of tail … _Anthus._
Hind toe and claw longer than tarsus; outstretched toes
extending beyond tip of tail … _Neocorys._
Wings short and rounded.
Point of wings formed by outer four primaries of nearly equal
length … _Notiocorys._[30]
Point of wing formed by outer five primaries, the first
shorter than the third … _Pediocorys._[31]
[Illustration: PLATE X.
1. Motacilla alba, _Linn._ Europe.
2. Budytes flava, _Linn._ Alaska, 45912.
3. Anthus ludovicianus, _Gm._ Labrador, 18081.
4. “ pratensis, _Linn._ Europe, 18590.
5. Neocorys spraguei, _Aud._ ♀ Dacota, 1884.
6. Mniotilta varia, _Linn._ ♂ 18685.
7. Parula americana, _Linn._ ♂ Pa., 53385.
8. Protonotaria citrea, _Bodd._ Ill., 1011.
9. Helmitherus swainsoni, _Aud._ S. C., 1054.
10. “ vermivorus, _Gm._ Pa., 2148.]