120 BIRDS OF ILLINOIS. 



across the river in pairs and alighting well up. On June 1st he 

 had no trouble in seeing them and procuring specimens. They 

 were occupied around the dead stumps, about ten feet from the 

 ground. On the 8th of June he gave his attention to hunting for 

 their nests, and found several. Young were found flying about 

 June 15th. Mr. Coale says that "the Prothonotary Warbler is the 

 most abundant summer resident of this locality, excepting perhaps 

 the White-bellied Swallow and Eedstart. Probably from forty to 

 sixty pairs of the two former species were breeding within a dis- 

 tance of two miles." He regards the Kankakee as the northern 

 limit of the breeding range of the species. He notes it as having 

 been seen or taken in Cook county, however, near Chicago, in May 

 1883. 



GENUS HELINAIA AUDUBON. 



Helinaia A.VD. Synopsis. 1839, 66. Type, Sylvia swainsonii Aur>. 



GEN. CH.* Bill nearly as long as the head, somewhat compressed, especially toward 

 the cuJmen. which is elevated basally where it extends backward, as a rather prominent 

 ridge well between the frontal apices. 



This genus much resembles Helmithcros in general appearance, 

 but differs in having a considerably longer and more compressed 

 bill, the ridge of which is compressed, elevated, and appears to 

 extend backwards on the forehead, as well as to be in a straight 

 line with the upper part of the head. The wings are longer, the 

 tail forked, not rounded; the feathers narrower and more pointed; 

 the tarsi shorter. In form it is still nearer Protonotaria, but the bill 

 is quite different in shape, while the coloration is widely diverse. 



The single species is perhaps the plainest colored of American 

 Warblers, being uniform olive-brown above (the head more rufous) 

 and dingy yellowish-white below. 



Mr. Brewster remarks as follows concerning the relationships of 

 this genus : 



*"CHAB. Bill long, robust at base, tapering to a sharp point, smooth or slightly notched 

 at tip; the culmen slightly curved, its ridge compressed, elevated, and extending well 

 back on the forehead, resembling in this, as in some other respects, the bill of the Meadow 

 Lark (Sturnella). Wings long, X'ather rounded, the first quill always shorter than the 

 second and third, which are about equal. Tarsus stout, slightly longer than the middle 

 toe. Feet large, flesh-colored. Eminently terrestrial" BBEWSTER, Auk, Jan. 1885, p. 76.) 



