BIRDS — SYLVICOLIDAE — SEIURDS. 



259 



peregrtt,a of Wilson, as intimated by Bonaparte, since the former i.s stated to have the upper 

 parte, including the rump, pale blue. This is never the case in the latter species, where the 

 rump is always Ljreen. The absence of white bands on the wing shows that it is not S. roerulea 

 of Wilson. The Ildinaia hrevijiennis of Giraud is quite similar, but has a much shorter wing. 



List of specimens. 



Section Sylvicoleae. 



Bill distinctly notched ; rictal bristles short or small, or wanting-. Hind too short, equal to llie lateral ; the claw as long aa 

 its digit. First quill scarcely shorter than longest. 



The following genera compose this section : 



Seixjrus. — Legs stout, elongated ; tarsi longer than the skull. Colors olive above ; streaked 

 beneatii. Tail feathers unspotted. Legs yellow. 



Dexdroica. — Legs slender ; tarsi scarcely equal to the skull. Bill variable. Colors of body 

 brilliant and varied. Tail feathers always with a white patch on the inner web. Legs usually 

 dusky. 



SEIURUS, Swainson. 



Stiitrus, Swainson, Zool. Jour. Ill, 1827, 171. (Sufficiently distinct from Sciurus.) Type Motacilla aurocapilla, L. 

 Henicocichla, Gray, List of Genera, 1840. 



Ch. — Bill rather sylvicoline, compressed, witli a distinct notch. Gonys ascending. Rictal bristles very short. Wings mod- 

 erate, about three-quarters of an inch longer than the tail ; first quill scarcely shorter than the second. Tail slightly rounded ; 

 feathers acuminate. Tarsi about as long as the skull, considerably exceeding the middle toe. Under tail coverts reaching 

 within about half an inch of the end of the tail. Color above olivaceous ; beneath whitish, thickly streaked on the breast and 

 sides. Wings and tail immaculate. 



This genus is decidedly sylvicoline in general appearance, although the spots on the breast 

 resemble somewhat those of the thrushes. The three species may be grouped as follows : 



A. Middle of crown brownish orange, bordered by blackish. No white superciliary 

 streak S. aurocapillus. 



B. Crown like the back. A well defined superciliary light stripe. 



Thickly streaked beneath, including crissum. Ground color and superciliary 

 stripe yellowish. Bill small S. novehoracensis. 



Sparsely streaked beneath ; throat and crissum immaculate. Ground color and 

 superciliary stripe white. Bill very large S. ludovicianm. 



