MNIOTILTIDjE: AMERICAN WARBLERS. 305 



resemblance; this of course requires careful discriniiuation. The usual shape of the bill may 

 be called conoid-elongate (something like a slender miuie bullet in miniature), but the varia- 

 tions in precise shape are endless. The rictus is usually bristled ; the bristles sometimes have 

 an extraordinary development, and are sometimes wanting. The wings are longer than the 

 tail, except in Geothh/pis, Icteria, and a few exotic genera; neither wing nor tail ever presents 

 striking forms ; the head is never crested. The feet have no special peculiarities, though they 

 show some slight modifications corresponding to somewhat terrestrial, or more strictly arbori- 

 cole, habits. The nidification is endlessly varied, more or less artistic or artless nests being 

 built in trees, bushes, holes, or on the ground. Musical proficiency might be expected from 

 the agreeably suggestive name of the family, but as a rule the " Warbler's" singing is rather 

 '' quaint and curious" than very skilfully modulated or highly melodious — to which statement, 

 however, there is signal exception to be taken, as iu the case of the Siuri. Some Warblers 

 have the habits of Titmice or Wrens ; others of Creepers or Nuthatches ; the Siuri closely re- 

 semble Titlarks in some respects, and have even been placed in Motacillidcc ; while Setoxthagince 

 simulate Tyrannida; (of a difiierent suborder) so perfectly that they used to be classed with 

 these clamatorial Flycatchers. Warblers grade so perfectly toward Tanagers that they have 

 all been made a subfamily of Tanagridce (where possibly they belong). The affinity of some 

 of them with Ccerehidce, or Honey-creepers of the tropics, is so close that the dividing line has 

 not been drawn. The position of Icteria and its two associate exotic genera, Granatellus and 

 Teretistris, is open to question ; perhaps they come nearer Vireonidte. It is probable that final 

 critical study will result in a remapping of the whole group ; meanwhile, the very diversity of 

 its forms enables us to discriminate the genera with ease. We have usually followed Baird 

 in recognizing for our genera the three subfamilies '' Si/lvicolince," Icteriinee, and Setopha- 

 gin(p, which have been formally presented in previous eds. of the Key, and such subdivision 

 has the merit of practical convenience. But the basis of this grouping is not scientifically 

 strong, and I am quite ready to follow the example of the A. 0. U. in ignoring subfamilies 

 altt)geThor in treating our North American forms. 



It is unfortunate that the long-current name of this family, Sylvicolid^, which has been 

 used iu all former eds. of the Key, can no longer be used consistently with our rules; and I 

 M'ish we could employ the term Dendrcecidce, derived from the name of our most characteristic 

 genus. But Sylvicola in ornithology is inadmissible, having been given to a genus of Mollusks 

 long before it was applied to our Warblers ; Si/lvicolidce must therefore be discarded in favor of 

 3ImotiUidcc, because Mniotilta is the earliest name of exclusive pertinence to any genus of 

 this family. 



Tliis is the second largest family of North American birds, FringiUidce alone surjiassiug it 

 in number of species. If not exactly " representative," in a technical sense, of the Old World 

 SgJriida, it may be considered to replace that family in America, having much the same rdle 

 in bird-economy ; both families abound in species and individuals; they are small, migratory, 

 insectivorous, and everywhere take prominent part in tlie make-up of the bird-fauna. There 

 are nearly or about 140 good species of Mniotiltido', distributed over the whole of North and 

 Middle America, and much of South America. Tlie centre of abundance of Setophagince, or 

 Flycatcliiug Warblers, is in the warmer parts of America ; comparatively few species reach 

 the United States, and only two or three are extensively dispersed in this country. On the 

 other hand, the Mniotiltince are more particularly birds of North America ; very few of the 

 species are confined to Middle or South America; and Dendrosca, the leading type of this 

 group, is the largest, most beautiful, and most attractive genus of North American birds, 

 pre-eminently characteristic of this country. The Warblers have we always with us, all in 

 tlieir own good time; they come out of the South, pass on, return, and are away again, their 

 appearance and withdrawal scarcely less than a mystery ; many stay with us all summer long, 

 and some brave our winters. Some of these slight creatures, guided by unerring instinct, 



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