Mr. R. Ridgway on the Genus Helminthophaga. 167 



western f. During the breeding-season the species oi Hel- 

 minthophaga are distributed as follows : — 



Eastern Province. 



Western 

 Province. 



1. H. pimis 



2. H. laiorencii 



3. H. chrysoptera . . . 



4. If. leKcohronchialis . 



5. If. bach?na>ii 



6. H. ruJicapiUa 



7. H. viryhiice 



8. H. lucice 



9. H. celata 



10. H. peregrina 



n 



Regarding the characters of this genus little need here be 

 said, beyond that it is distinguished from all other Mniotiltidje, 

 except Parula and Perissoglossa, by its very acute bill^ with 

 nearly straight culmen and gonys, and from these two genera 

 by the absence of a notch on the superior tomium of the bill, 

 and of rictal bristles at its base. The species all nest on or 

 near the ground (as is the habit of GeothJypis , Opororms, and 

 Siurus), and lay white eggs, speckled, rather faintly, with 



t It is, of course, understood that I do not here refer to the Mexican 

 genera Granatellus, Ergaticiis, Cardellina, and Basileuterus, all of ■which 

 have representatives within our south-western border. 



X Specimens of a western race {yutturalis, Ridgway, Hist. N. Am. B. 

 ii. p. 191) have been taken in the autumn at various localities in the 

 western portions of the United States, including even Southern California ; 

 it is therefore presumed that they were bred on the mountains to the 

 northward or in the interior. 



§ This species occurs in two well-marked geographical races : — the true 

 celata, Say, belonging to the Eastern Province, including Florida and 

 Illinois, in winter, and the Rocky Mountains and Alaska ; the other, 

 lutescens, Ridgw., belonging to the Pacific district of the Western Pro- 

 vince, in summer. 



