72 BIRDS OF ILLINOIS. 



Famtt.t SYLVITD^.-Tite Warhlf.rb. 



CnARACTRRS. There is very little by which to distinguish the 

 birds of this Family from the Turdidio, beyond the very much smaller 

 size and the unspotted plumage of the young. Of the so-called 

 subfamilies here recognized, the PolioptiUme are without much 

 question out of place, though it is very uncertain where they do 

 belong. For the convenience of the student, however, we place 

 them here in accordance with the arrangement adopted by the 

 American Ornithologists' Union. 



The so-called subfamilies may be distinguished as follows : 



d.' Wines loDKer tban the nearly even or emaiRinate tail. Anterior tarsal 

 envelope conllniious for the Krenter part of its extent. No white on t^ill. 



6.' Nostrils oxposetl. Scutelln! distinct on inner side of tarsus Sylviinee 



h.' Nostrils concealed by feathers. Tarsal envelope without appreciable 



scutellii' BegalinsB 



n.» Wines not longer than the cradiiated tail. Anterior tarsal envelope dis- 

 tinctly scutellate. Tail with white terminal spots and edgings Polioptilinae 



Subfamily POLIOPTILIN^.— The Gnatcatchers. 

 Genus POLIOPTILA Sclater. 



PoUoplila ScLATEB Tr. Zool. 8oe. 1855, U. Type, Motacilla canitea Linn. 



Chab. Bill slender, attenuated, but depressed at the base: nearly as long as the head, 

 distinctly notched at the tip, and provided with moderate rietui bristles. Nostrils rather 

 eloncated, not concealed, but anterior to the frontal feathers. Tarsi ionccr than the 

 middle toe, distinctly scutellate; the toes email, the hinder one scarcely longer than the 

 lateral; its cl.-vw scarcely longer than the middle. Outer lateral too longer than the inner. 

 First primary about one-tliird the longest; second euual to the seventh. Tail a little 

 longer than the wings, moderately graduated; the feathers rounded. Nest felted and 

 covered with moss or lichens. Eggs greenish white, spotted with purplish brown. 



"The species all lead-color above ; white beneath, and to a greater 

 or less extent on the exterior of the tail, the rest of which is black. 

 Very diminutive in size (but little over four inches long)." {Hist. 

 N. Am. B.) 



