ANALYSIS OF SYLVICOLID^ 203 



for tlie reader's convenience. Waiving the question of absolute 

 rank in the scale of classification, we find among our North 

 American Warblers at least three strongly marked groups, into 

 which I divided our Warblers in the "Key"; and I shall ad- 

 here for the present to these divisions, which seem as natural 

 as they are convenient. They only differ from those proposed 

 by Baird in the union of his Geothlypincv with SylvicoUncc. One 

 of these groups, Icteriince, is so peculiar that it has often been 

 altogether removed from the family. Another includes the 

 well-marked " Fly-catching W^arblers"; the other covers the bal- 

 ance of the family. These groups, conventionally rated as sub- 

 families, may be thus distinguished : — 



Analysis of subfamilies. 



SylvicolincB. — Wings longer than tail (except in Geothlypis) ', bill conical, 

 slender; couimissare slightly curved, with short bristles or none. Size 

 moderate. 



Ictminw. — Wings shorter than tail; bill compressed, high, very stont; 

 commissure much curved, without any bristles ; size very large. 



Setophagince. — Wings longer than tail ; bill broad, flattened ; coiiimisaure 

 slightly curved, with bristles reaching far beyond the nostrils. 



Subfamily SYLVICOLINJE: True Warblers 



Chars. — Bill conoid-elongate, shorter than head, about as 

 high as, or rather higher than, wide opposite the nostrils, not 

 hooked, and with but a slight notch, if any, at tip : commissnre 

 straight or slightly curved ; a few rlctal bristles, reaching little, 

 if any, beyond the nostrils, or none. Wings pointed, longer 

 than the narrow, nearly even tail. 



This beautiful group, which comprehends the great majority 

 of the Warblers, is specially characteristic of North America, and 

 reaches its highest development in the eastern portions of the 

 continent, mainly through the preponderance of species of the 



ICTERIAN^. Bill without notch, or rictal bristles. Culmen and commis- 

 sure much curved Wings much rounded, shorter than the tail. 

 [Sections Icteriew (genus Icteria) and the exotic Teretristew.'] 



Bill depressed ; rictus with long bristles. 



Setophagince. Bill much depressed, considerably broader than high ; the 

 tip more or less hooked, with distinct notch. Bristles lengthened, reaching 

 half way or more from the nostrils to tip of bill. Flycatching Warblers. 



[Genera Myiodioctes, Cardellina, and Setophaga, with their respective- 

 subdivisions.] 



