206 THE GENUS PARULA 



that of the true Creepers. The remaining genera are " Wood 

 Warblers", chiefly represented by Dendroecajrom which Perisso- 

 glossa and Peucedranms have been successively detached, on the 

 ground of certain peculiarities of the tongue and bill, and some 

 other features. In their special habits, song, food, and mode 

 of nesting, the Sylvicolince differ among themselves to such a 

 degree that it is scarcely possible here to go into further details. 

 I must refer to the several histories of the species, upon which 

 we are now prepared to enter. The descriptions and biographies 

 will be confined to the species inhabiting the Colorado Basin; 

 but I shall take note of all the North American species, giving 

 synonymy and habitat. 



Genus PARULA Bonaparte 



ChlorlS, Boie, Isia, 1826, 927. (Not of Mohr. Gen. Av. 1752, 51. Type Parus amerieanus L.) 

 S Jlvicola, Sw. Zool. Journ. iii. 1827, 169. (Not of Humph. Mas. Calon. 1797, CO. Type Sylvia 



ptisilla Wils.) 

 Parula, Bp. C. & G. L. 1838, 20. (Type Parus amerieanus L.) 

 Compsothlypis, Odb. Mas. Hein. i. 1850, 20 (same type). 

 Ficedula, Des Murs, "— , 1853, — " (fide Gray ; nee auct.). 



This generic name, based upon Parus amerieanus of Linnaeus, 

 and latterly restricted to include only species having the same 

 pattern of coloration as the bird just named, is now employed to 

 designate a group of Warblers considered by Baird to be most 

 nearly related to Mniotilta, all of which have the upper parts 

 bluish, with a yellowish patch on the back, and the under parts 

 more or less yellow. The tail-feathers have white spots, as in 

 Dendroeca. The bill is very short, quite stout, acutely conical, 

 and notched near the tip. The rictus is evidently furnished 

 with bristles, though these are few and short. The hind toe is 

 decidedly longer than its claw, and the anterior toes are rather 

 more than usually connate at the base. The tarsus is longer 

 than the middle toe and claw. The lateral claws are of un- 

 equal lengths. But the structural peculiarities are very slight, 

 and the species are easiest recognized by the pattern of colora- 

 tion and the very small size — five inches in length, or less. 



If the group is considered worth retaining, its proper name 

 is uncertain. Clitoris was used by Mohring in 1752 for a dif- 

 ferent group; but if his genera are to be rejected as pre-Linnaean, 

 the employ of Chloris by Boie in 182G may require to be endorsed. 

 Sylvicola of Swainsou, 1827, whether applying exclusively here 

 or not, is clearly antedated in zoology by Sylvicola of Humph- 

 reys, 1797. Parula of Bonaparte, 1838, if acceptable without 

 diagnosis, is antedated by Parulus of Spix, "Av. Bras. i. 1824, 



