BIRDS — SYLVICOIJDAE — DENDROICA. 



263 



immaculate instead of conspicuously spotted. In both species there is a trace towards the base 

 of the bill of a median light stripe, varying in extent with the specimen.' 



The precise name of this large-billed species is a matter of uncertainty. Tlie Tardus mola- 

 cilla, of Vieillot, has, as its chief distinguishing feature, a white lateral band from the bill 

 involving the eye, or passing above and below it, and with a dusky island anterior to the eyg. 

 This is distinctly indicated both in the figure and description, and is so dissimilar in this 

 respect from specimens of the allied species known in the United States, as to render it almost 

 necessary to puss by Vieillot's species at ouce. He further mentions that the under jiarts are 

 whitish anteriorly, reddish posteriorly, and throughout, including the forepart of the throat, 

 spotted with brown. The size of the bill, as given in this figure, and the under parts agree 

 best with the slender-hilled species, although differing in the color and character of the eye 

 stripe ; if a synonym of either species, 1 should rather refer it to the S. noveboracensis. 



Tlie description, by Cabanis, of Henicocichla major, from Xalapa, agrees very well with this 

 species, although I do not exactly comprehend the force of the statement that it has a "broader 

 whitish eyelid" than the other species ; although he probably refers to tlie superciliary stripe. 



There i.s, however, little doubt that the Seiurtis ludovicianus, of Audubon, was based on an 

 individual of the same species ; although the description is not very minute, yet the yellowish 

 white colors, instead of pale yellow, the connection of the white su-.erciliary and maxillary 

 stripes behind the ear coverts, and the greater size, show this, as indicated still more satisfac- 

 torily by the figure. 



List of specimens. 



DENDROICA, Gray. 



Syjlmcola, Gray, Genera Birds, 2d ed , 1841, 32. (Not of Humphreys nor Swainson.) 



JDendrotca, Gray, Genera Birds, Appendix, 1842, 8. 



/{htmampAus,HAaTLAUB, Rev. Zool. 1845, 342. (Notof Rafine.sque, Am. Monthly Mag. 1818 and Jour. dePliys. 1819.) 



Ch. — Bill conical, attenuated, depressed at the base, where it is, however, scarcely broader than high, compressed from 

 the middle. Culmen straight for the basal half, then rather rapidly curving, the lower edge of upper mandible also concave. 

 Gonys shghtly convex and ascending. A distinct notch near the end of the bill. Bristles, though short, generally quite 

 distinct at tiic base of the bill. Tarsi long ; decidedly longer than middle toe, which is longer than the hinder one ; the claws 

 rather small and much curved ; the hind claw nearly as long as its digit. The wings long and pointed ; the second quil 

 usually a very litile longer than the first. The tail slightly rounded and emarginate. 



Colors. — Tail always with a white spot ; its ground color never clear olive green. 



The name Sylvicola, which has until recently been assigned to the present genus, cannot longer 



' In the present species the bases of the feathers behind the ear coverts arc whilish, thus connecting the superciliary stripe 

 with tke maxillary white stripe. In norefroracenns the dusky line through the eye is continuous with the olive of the side of the 

 neck. 



