Part 52

Turdus nanus, Dwarf Thrush, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 201.

FAMILY XIII. MOTACILLINÆ. WAGTAILS.

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.

148. 1. Seiurus aurocapillus, Lath. Golden-crowned Wood-Wagtail.

Plate CXLIII. Male and Female.

Upper parts yellowish-olive, the crown brownish-orange, with two lateral bands of brownish-black spots; lower parts white, the throat with two lateral lines of brownish-black, the lower neck, fore part of breast, and sides, marked with triangular spots of the same. Female similar to the male. Young without the orange crown.

Male, 6, 9.

From Texas eastward. Fur Countries. Not seen in Labrador. Throughout the interior. Resident in Florida, Louisiana, and Texas. Abundant.

Golden-crowned Thrush, Turdus aurocapillus, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. ii. p. 88.

Sylvia aurocapilla, Bonap. Syn. p. 77.

Seiurus aurocapillus, Golden-crowned accentor, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 227.

Golden-crowned Thrush or Oven Bird, Turdus aurocapillus, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 355.

Golden-crowned Thrush, Turdus aurocapillus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 253; v. v. p. 447.

149. 2. Seiurus Novæboracensis, Gmel. Aquatic Wood-Wagtail.

Plate XIX. Plate CCCCXXXIII. Fig. 7.

Upper parts dull greenish-brown, wings and tail dark chocolate-brown, lower parts pale yellow; a streak of the latter from the bill over the eye; loral space, and a streak behind the eye dusky; cheeks yellowish-grey, streaked with brown; the whole fore part and sides of the neck, the breast, and sides, marked with triangular blackish-brown spots, which are more elongated on the sides; abdomen and lower tail-coverts unspotted; bill dusky; feet flesh-coloured and transparent. Individuals vary, the throat sometimes without spots, the lower parts pale or yellowish-white, the feet dusky tinged with purple.

Male, 6-2/12, 9-1/2. Female, 5-8/12, 8-7/12.

In winter resident from Texas to Florida, including Louisiana. In summer migrates as far as the Fur Countries. Not Abundant.

Water Thrush, Turdus aquaticus, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. iii. p. 66.

Sylvia novæboracensis, Bonap. Syn. p. 77.

Seiurus aquaticus, Aquatic Accentor, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 229.

New York or Aquatic Thrush, Turdus novæboracensis, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 353.

Louisiana Water Thrush, Turdus ludovicianus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 99.

Common Water Thrush, Turdus aquaticus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 284.

GENUS II. ANTHUS, Bechst. PIPIT.