MNIOTILTID^ — THE AMERICAN WAKBLEES. 157 



etc. The whole is bound together hke a web by cotton-hke fibres 

 of a vegetable origin. The upper rim of this nest is a marked 

 feature, being a strongly interlaced weaving of vegetable roots and 

 strips of bark. The lining of the nest is composed of fine vegetable 

 fibres and a few horse-hau-s. This nest, in its general mode of con- 

 struction, resembles all that I have seen; only in others the ma- 

 terials vary — in some, dead and decayed leaves, in others, remains 

 of old cocoons, and in others, the pappus of composite plants, being 

 more prominent than the fine strips of bark. The nests are usually 

 within four feet of the ground. The eggs vary from three to five, 

 and even six." 



Genus SEIUE.US Swainson. 



Seiurus Swainson, Zool. Jour, iii, 1827,171. Type, MotaciUa aurocapilla Litrs. 



"Gen. Chae. Bill rather compressed, with a distinct notch. Gonys ascending. Rietal 

 bristles very short. Wings moderate (about three quarters of an inch longer than the 

 tail); first quill scarcely shorter than the second. Tail slightly rounded, feathers acumi- 

 nate. 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 oliva- 

 ceous; beneath whitish, thickly streaked on the breast and sides; wings and tail immacu- 

 late. Nests on the ground, often arched or sheltered by position or dry leaves. Eggs 

 white, marked with red, brown, and purple." 



"This genus. is decidedly sylvicoline in general appearance, although 

 the spots on the breast resemble somewhat those of the Thrushes." 

 {Hist. N. Am. B.) 



Key to the Species. 



A. Crown orange-rufous centrally, bordered on each side byablackish stripe; no white 



superciliary stripe. 



1. S. aurooapiUus. Above brownish olive-green. I'oioiff.- Above fulvous brown, with 

 indistinct dusky shaft-streaks on the back; wing-coverts tipped with hght ful- 

 vous, lower parts light fulvous, with dusky shaft-streaks, except on abdomen and 

 orissum. 



B. Crown uniform with the back, and bordered on each side by a distinct white super- 



ciliary stripe. 



2. S, motaoilla. Throat and erissum immaculate, or else the former only minutely 

 speckled; lower parts creamy white, the flanks and erissum deeper buff; super- 

 ciliary stripe white. Wing. 3.20-3.25; tail, 2.20-2.35; bill from nostril, .40-45. ' 



. 3. S. noveboracensis. Throat always more or less speckled, and erissum with dis- 

 tinct, though mostly concealed, streaks; lower parts pale sulphur-yellow, or yel- 

 lowish white, not deeper on flanks or erissum; superciliary stripe Ught fulvous. 

 a. novehoracensis. Wiug,3.-3.10; tail, 2.25-2.40; bill from nostril, .35-.38. 

 13. notahiUs. Wing,3 05-3.25; tail, 2.25-2.50; bill from nostril, .40-.50. 



