228 REVIEW OF AMEEICAN BIRDS. [PART I. 



This may possibly be the female of G. npeviosa, Scl., which I have 

 not seen. It is certainly different from any species known to me, in 

 combining characters of the two genera mentioned. 



SiJBFAMiur ICTERIANiE. 



ICTERIA, ViEiLLOT. 



Icteria, Vieillot, Ois. Am. Sept. I, 1S07, iii and 85. (Type Muscicapa 

 viridis, Gm., Turdus virens, Linn.) 



Bill broad at base, but contracting rapidly and becoming attenuated when 

 viewed from above ; bigh at the base (higher than broad opposite the nostrils) ; 

 the culmen and commissure much curved from base ; the gonys straight. 

 Upper jaw deeper than the lower ; bill without notch, or rictal bristles. Nos- 

 trils circular, edged above with membrane, the feathers close to their borders. 

 Wings shorter than tail, considerably rounded ; 1st quill rather shorter than 

 the 6th. Tail moderately graduated ; the feathers rounded, but narrow. 

 Middle toe without claw about two-thirds the length of tarsus, which has the 

 scutellse fused externally into one plate. 



The precise systematic position of the genus Icteria is a matter 

 of much contrariety of opinion among ornithologists ; but I have 

 little hesitation in including it among the Sylvicolidse. It has been 

 most frequently assigned to the Vireonidse, but differs essentially 

 in the deeply cleft inner toe (not half-united as in Vireo), the partially 

 booted tarsi, the lengthened middle toe, the slightly curved claws, 

 the entire absence of notch or hook in the bill, and the short, rounded 

 wing with only nine primaries. The wing of Vireo, when much 

 rounded, has ten primaries — nine being only found when the wing 

 is very long and pointed. 



Icteria Tireiis. 



Turdus virens, Linn. Syst. Nat. 10th ed. 1758, 171, no. 16 (based on 



(Enanthe americana, pectore luteo, Yellow-breasted Chat, Catesby, 



Carol. I, tab. 50). 

 Muscicapa viridis, Gmelin, Syst. Nat. 1, 1788, 936. — Jcteria viridis, Box. ; 



AuD. Orn. Biog. II, pi. 137.— Baird, Birds N. Am. 1858, 248.—? Max. 



Cab. Jour. VI, 1858, 122. 

 Icteria dumicohi, Vieill. — Pipra pohjglolta, "WiLS. 

 ? Icteria velasquezii, Bon. P. Z. S. 1837, 117 (Mexico).— Sclater k Salv. 



Ibis, I, 1859, 12 (Guatemala). 



