BIRDS OF NORTH AND MIDDLE AMERICA. 487 



its depth at latcro-froiital antiiv equal to not more than one-third the 

 distance from nostril to tip of maxilla and about eciual to its width at 

 same point; exposed culmen about eijual to middle toe without claw, 

 very much shorter than tarsus, gently curved for most of its length 

 (straight only at base); gonys nuich shorter than distance from nostril 

 to tip of maxilla, straight; maxillary tomium slightly but decidedly 

 concave, without trace of subtei-minal notch. Nostril cuneate (pointed 

 anteriorly), overhung by a rather broad operculum, its posterior end 

 in contact with feathering of latero- frontal antiaj. Rictal bristles 

 wanting. Wing moderate, nmch rounded; seventh and sixth prima- 

 ries longest, the eighth and fifth very little shorter, or the eighth some- 

 times ecj[ual to seventh; ninth slightly shorter than first, less than 

 twice as long as tenth. Tail nearly as long as wing (more than four- 

 fifths as long), nuich rounded (but graduation less than one-fourth its 

 length), the rectrices of uniform width throughout (or the lateral ones 

 slightly broader terminally), their tip broadly rounded. Tarsus 

 longer than middle too with claw, a little more than two-fifths as long 

 as wing, the acrotarsium distinctly scutellate, the planta tarsi booted; 

 outer toe reaching to decidedly l)eyond subterminal phalanx of middle 

 toe, its claws reaching about to base of middle claw; inner toe slightly 

 longer than outer,'* its claw slightly' smaller than that of outer toe; 

 hallux, without claw, as long as inner toe, without claw, but much 

 thicker, its claw nmch shorter than the digit; basal phalanx of middle 

 toe coherent to outer toe for about two-thirds its length (or a little 

 less), to the inner for about half its length; base of hallux united 

 exteriorly to base of inner toe to beyond point where the latter is 

 united to middle toe.'' 



Coloi'athm. — Above brown, the back streaked with black and white, 

 wings and tail barred, more or less, with black or dusky, the pileum 

 dusk}', at least laterally; narrow superciliary stripe and under parts 

 whitish, the latter brownish laterally, where sometimes barred with 

 dusky. 



Nidijlcation. — Nest globular, Avith entrance a small hole in one side, 

 composed externally of bhides of coarse grasses, rushes, etc., attached 

 to several upright stalks of aquatic weeds or rushes. Eggs profuseU' 

 sprinkled with brown on a paler (sometimes whitish) ground, some- 

 times so denseh' that the color ap})cars almost uniform brown. 



Range. — Temperate North America. (Monotypic.) 



« The reverse of other genera except Cidothorxis. 

 b This character also is shared only by Cistothorus. 



