BIRDS — SYLVICOLIDAE — MYIODIOCTES MINUTUS. 



291 



Section Setophageae. 



Ch. — Bill usually distinctly notched at tip ; decidedly broader than hign at the base, though thick. Rictus well pro- 

 vided with bristles, the longest nearly equal to the bill. Tail nearly equal to the wings, or longer. Wings rounded ; first 

 quill nearly equal to fourth. 



The following genera compose this section : 



Myiodioctes. — Bill muscicapine. Feet stout. Tarsus longer than the head. Toes developed; 

 hind toe considerably longer than the lateral. Tail about equal to the wings ; slightly rounded. 



Cardellina. — Bill j^arine ; as high at base as broad ; scarcely deflected at tip. Tail nearly 

 even ; first quill equal to the sixth. Hind toe longer than the lateral. 



Basileuterus. — Bill stout, but rather depi'essed at base. Wings very short ; the first quill 

 shorter than the secondaries. Tail considerably graduated. Hind toe longer than the lateral. 



Setophaga. — Bill muscicapine. Feet slender. Tarsus scarcely equal to the head. Hind toe 

 not longer than the lateral. Tail usually longer than the wings ; considerably rounded^ or 

 even graduated. 



MYIODIOCTES, Aud. 



Myiodioctes, Aud. Syn. 1839, 48. (Type Molacilla mitrata.) 



Wilsonia, Bonap. List, 1838. (Preoccupied in Botany.) 



Myioctonus, Cabanis, Mus. Hein. 1850, 18. 

 Ch. — Bill depressed, flycatcher like; broader than high at the base ; gape with bristles nearly as long as the bill, which 

 is distinctly notched at tip ; both outlines gently convex. Tarsi longer than the head ; considerably exceeding the middle toe; 

 claws all considerably curved. Tail decidedly rounded or slightly graduated ; the lateral feathers .20 of an inch shorter. 

 "Wing very little longer than the tail ; the first quill decidedly shorter than the fourth ; colors yellow. 



The species of this genus are decidedly muscicapine in general appearance, as shown by the 

 depressed bill with bristly rictus. The type M. mitratus is very similar in character of bill to 

 Sylvicola castanea, but the wings are much shorter ; the tail longer and more graduated ; the 

 legs and hind toe longer, and the first primary shorter than the fourth, (.15 of an inch less 

 than the longest,) not almost equal to the longest. The species are plain olive or plumbeous 

 above, and yellow beneath. They may be grouped as follows : 



A. Tail with white patches on the outer feathers. 



Head and neck black. Front, cheeks and under parts yellow. Back olive green. Jf, mitratus, 

 Olive above ; yellowish beneath. Two white bands on the wings ? M. minutus. 



B. Tail without white patch on the outer feathers. 



Crown black. Forehead, cheeks, and under parts, yellow. Back olive M. pusillus. 



Streaks on the crown, stripe on sides of head and neck, with pectoral collar of streaks, 



black. Rest of under parts, and line to and around the eye, yellow. Back bluish. 



{Euthlypis, Cab. Mus. Hein. 1850, 18.) M. canadensis. 



Comparative measurements. 



