MNIOTILTIDjE THE AMERICAN WARHLERS. 117 



white. The female is not very different, except that the white mark- 

 ings are more or less soiled with brownish, the black is less intense, 

 and the streaks on the sides indistinct. 



Two races have been recognized, only one of which has been detect- 

 ed in Illinois (or indeed in any locality west of the Alleghanies), the 

 typical form being restricted to the Atlantic coast and the West 

 Indies. 



Mniotilta varia (Linn.) 



BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER. 



Popular synonyms. Black-and-white Creeper; Black-and-white Creeping Warbler; 

 Striped Creeper. 



a. varia. 



Motacilla varia, LINN, S. N. ed. 12, i. 1766, 333. 

 Sylvia varia LATH. NUTT. Man. i, 1832, 384. 



Certhia varia VIEILL. Ois. Am. Sept. ii, 1807, 69. AUD. Orn. Biog. 5, 1832, 452, pi. 90. 

 3fniotilta varia VIEILL. Analyse, 1816, 45. AUD. Synop. 1839, 71; B. Am. ii, 1841, 105, pi. 

 114. NUTT. Man. 2d ed. i, 1840. 702.-BAIBD, B. N. Am. 1858, 235; Cat. N. Am. B. 1859, 

 No. 167; Review, 1864, 167. COUES, Key, 1872, 92; Check List, 1873, No. 57; 2d ed. 1832, 

 No. 91; B. N. W. 1874, 45; B. Col. Val. 1878, 204. B. B. & R., Hist. N. Am. B. i, 1874, 180. 

 pi. 10, fig. 6. RIDGW. Nom. N. Am. B. 1881, No. 74. 

 Certhia maculata WILS. Am. Orn. iii, 1811, 22, pi. 19, fig. 3. 

 Mniotilta varia var. longirostris BAIRD, B. N. Am. 1858, p. xxxi, No. 167. 



I. borealis. 



Mniotilta varia AUCT. (all western references). 

 Mniotilta borealis NUTT. Man. 2d ed. i, 1840, 705. 



Mniotilta varia borealis RIDGW. Nom. N. Am. B. 1881, No. 74a. COUES. 2d Check List, 

 1882, No. 92. 



HAB. Eastern North America, west to eastern base of the Rocky Mountains, north to 

 the fur countries; breeding throughout its range; in winter, both coasts of Mexico (north 

 to Mazatlan) and Central America to Colombia, and throughout Greater Antilles. 



SP. CHAE. A dull male : Above rather glossy blue-black, relieved by a broad medial crown- 

 stripe of white, two white bands on the wing (formed by tips of middle and greater cov- 

 erts), and white outer edges of tertials and of upper tail-coverts. Lores and auriculars 

 black, separated from black stripes on sides of crown by a broad white superciliary stripe. 

 Broad malar stripe and most of lower parts white: the sides broadly streaked with black, 

 and the chin and throat more or less mixed with black almost solid black in high- 

 plumaged specimens. A large white spot on inner webs of two outer tail feathers, near 

 end, and all the rectrices edged externally with bluish gray. Bill wholly deep black in 

 summer, brownish black in winter; iris brown; legs and feet black (at least, in summer). 

 Total length about 5.25 inches, extent 8.75, wing (average) 2.80, tail 2.10, culmen .44, tarsus 

 .63, middle toe .52. Young male first autumn: Similar to the adult, but whole throat immac- 

 ulate white. Bill brownish black, the basal portion of the mandible lilaceous-white; feet 

 dull olive, the claws olive-yellowish. Adult female: Similar to the male, butcolors duller 

 Ihe black less intense, and the white parts tinged with brownish; throat immaculate white. 

 Size slightly less. Young, first plumage: Similar in general appearance to the adult female, 

 but markings, especially the two stripes of the pileum and the streaks beneath, much less 



