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SYNOPSIS OF BIRD FAMILIES

Family Parida: Nuthatches and Titmice. Page 71.

4 Species.

Birds seen creeping conspicuously about tree trunks, especially in autumn and winter, frequently walking head downward. The Nuthatches Laye compactly feathered bodies, straight bills, are varied grayish above, with some. what ruddy breasts. The Titmice are alert, sprightly little birds, with gray, white, and black feathers, one having a crest and the other a black cap and white cheeks. They feed also about trees.

Family Certhlida: Creepers. Page 75.

1 Species.

This bird is slender, with a long, sharp bill, much mottled, brownish plumage and a long tail. It is seen creeping spirally about trees in fall and winter.

Family Troglodytida: Wrens, Thrasher, Catbird, etc. Page 76.

8 Species.

Insectivorous birds and highly accomplished singers. The Wrens are all small, and more or less barred and washed with browns, while the tail is usually held erect. The Catbird (which really belongs to a sub-family) is dark slate with a black cap, the Mockingbird gray and olive, and the Thrasher is like a great red-brown Thrush with speckled breast, and a long tail with which he continually beats the air.

Family Motacillida: Pipits, etc. Page 87.

1 Species.

American Pipit, Titlark. Brownish bird, with long, pointed wings, slender bill, and outer tail-feathers white; seen in stubble fields as a migrant in late fall and spring. Peculiar, wavering fight.

Family Mnlotiltida: Wood Warblers. Page 88.

30 Species.

Beautifully plumed, graceful birds, which, with the exception of a few species, are practically unknown or rather