58 BIRDS. 



often very difficult. Many of the Warblers are pleasing 

 songsters, but none exhibit any remarkable powers in 

 that line. All are insectivorous and migratory. 



This family consists of more than a hundred species, 

 chiefly North American, and embraces quite a wide 

 variety, so that t!ie group can perhaps be only distin- 

 guished negatively. The Sylmcolidm grade perfectly 

 into the Tiniagridm and Ccerehidce^ and probably the 

 three families, and perhaps the FringiUidce^ also, should 

 be merged into one. Our species are divisible into 

 three very distinct sub - families, indicated below. 



I. Bill slender, not hooked, as hi^^h as wide at base, with short 

 bristles not reaching nmch beyond nostrils, or none ; wings 

 longer than tail (except Geotldypis) ; length 6i or less. True 

 "Warblers. (Sylvicoi;in^^.) 



* Tail feathers, some or all of them blotched with white. 



f Rictus with evident bristles. 



± Tarsus shorter than middle toe and claw; entirely black 

 and white, streaked. . . . Mniotilta, 1. 



X\ Tarsus not shorter than middle toe and claw. 



a. Hind toe decidedly longer than its claw ; bill acute, 

 scarcely notched ; bluish, throat and middle of back 

 with yellow Compsothlypis, 3. 



aa. Bill very acute, notched, perceptibly decurved, so 

 that the gonys is slightly concave ; rump and under 

 parts chiefly yellow. . . Pehissoglossa, G. 



aaa. "Warblers without above characters. Dendkceca, 7. 



ff Rictus without evident bristles. 



6. "\Yhole head and neck bright yellow; bill notched, half 

 inch or more long. . . . Protonotaria, 3. 



6&. "Wliole head and neck not yellow; bill acute, not 

 notched nor bristled, less than half inch long. 



Helminthophila, 5. 



** Tail feathers yellow on inner webs; outer webs dusky; 

 plumage chiefly yellow. . . . Dendkceca, 7. 



