PASSERES : WARBLERS, ETC. 



157 



The Warblers or Sylvicolidae (Figs. 176-178), are very 

 small generally less than six inches in length but exceed- 

 ingly beautiful and interesting birds. They have the 

 bill usually half the length of the head, nine primaries, 



FIG. 176. 



Maryland Yellow-throat Warbler female, Geothlypis trichas, Cabanis. 



FIG. 177. 



^mf&~ 



FIG. 178. 



Nightingale, 

 Philomela luscinia, Sw. 



Blackburnian Warbler, 

 Dendroica BlacJcburnice, Baird. 



the tarsi distinctly scutellate anteriorly, the lateral toes 

 nearly equal and shorter than the middle one, and the 

 basal joint of the middle one free nearly to its base ex- 

 ternally, and united for half the length interiorly. Many 

 species of warblers are often found in the same local- 

 ity, and may be seen a great part of the day gliding 

 among the thick foliage, busily engaged in catching the 

 minute insects which lurk beneath the leaves and in the 

 buds and blossoms, and which, for the most part, escape 

 the sight of other and larger birds. Some species of the 

 warblers as the Nightingale are among the sweetest of 

 the feathered songsters. 



Closely related to the "Warblers are the Tanagers or 

 TanagridaB, a very large group of oscines, noted for their 

 brilliant plumage. Here belong the Scarlet Tanager, the 



