BIRDS — SYLVICOLIDAE — SETOPHAGA RUTICILLA. 



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SETOPHAGA, Swain son. 



Selophaga, Swainson, Zool. Jour. Ill, Dec. 1827, 3G0. Type Muscicapa ruiicilla, Linn. 

 Sylvania, Ndttali., Man. Orn. I, 1832. Type .Muscicapa ruticilla. 



Ch. — Bill depressed; broader than high; rictus with long bristles. Wings rounded, equal to or shorter than the tail; first 

 quill shorter than the fourth. Tail long; somewhat graduated, tlie outer featliers about .90 of an inch or more shorter; all the 

 feathers unusually broad, and widened at the end. Feet short; tarsus shorter than the head. Hind toe equal to the lateral. 

 Coloration embracing more or less of red in northern species. 



This genus differs from Myiodiodes chiefly in the longer broader tail, and rather shorter tarsi 

 and toes, the hinder especially. The bill is more muscicapiae ; the culmen nearly straight to 

 the abruptly decurved and much notched tip ; the gonys straight. In Myiodiodes the vertical 

 outlines are more convex ; the gonys more ascending ; the tip gently and but slightly 

 decurved. 



The species of this genus are all characterized by the brilliant red, yellow, black, &c., of 

 their plumage, and, according to Kaup, (Pr. Zool. Soc. 1851, 49,) may be divided into 

 geographical groups, characterized by the prevalence of particular colors. The South American 

 species have more or less of yellow. The Mexican are usually black and red, without any pure 

 yellow. 



Synopsis of species. 



Black : base of the quills and tail, and sides of the breast reddish orange. Abdomen 

 white ■ S. ruticilla. 



Black : belly red, broad patch on the wings, and outer tail feathers white S. picta. 



Ash color : forehead, throat, and tail, black ; breast and belly, red ; a chestnut spot on 

 the crown. Three outer tail feathers tipped with white 8. miniafa. 



Comparative measurements of species. 



• Very much srretched. 



SETOPHAGA RUTICILLA, Swain son. 



Red Start. 



Muscicapa ruiicilla, Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. I, 1766, 326.— Gmelin, I, 1788, 9.35 — Vieillot, Ois. Am. Sept. I, 1807, 

 66 ; pi. XXXV, xxxvi.— Wilson, Am. Orn. I, 1808, 103 ; pi. vi, f. 6.— Bon. Obs. 1826, 118.— 

 AuD. Orn, Biog. 1, 1831, 202 : V, 1839, 428 ; pi. xl. 



Setophaga ruliciila , Swainson, Zool. Jour. Ill, 1827, 358.— Ib. F. Bor. Am. II, 1831, 223.— Bon. List, 1838.— Ib. 

 Consp. 1850, 312. 



Sylvania ruticilla, Nuttall, Man. I, 1832, 291. (Type of genus.) 



Motacilla flavicauda, Ghelin, Syst. Nat. I, 1788, 997. (Female.) 

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