MNIOTILTID^. — CLXXIII. 297 



the Warblers are pleasing songsters, but none exhibit any remark- 

 able powers in that line. The name " Warbler " comes from their 

 resemblance to the warblers of Europe (Sylviidce) and not from 

 any distinguished musical quality of their own. All are insectivo- 

 rous and migratory. 



This family consists of more than 100 species, all American. 

 The MniotiUklce grade perfectly into the Coerebidce and Tanagr'ulce^ 

 and the last as perfectly into the FringiUldce. Convenience is the 

 only excuse for retaining any of these groups as distinct families. 



a. Bill not depressed and fly- catcher-like; rictal bristles if present scarcely 



reaching beyond nostrils. 



b. Bill rather slender, little compressed; (small birds; length less than GJ). 



d. Hind toe with chiw very long, as long as tarsus in front ; claw of 



middle toe in same line as axis of the toe; (color black and white, 



no yellow) Mniotilta, 507. 



dd. Hind toe with claw much shorter than naked portion of tarsus in 

 front; claw of middle toe (seen from above) set obliquely to axis 

 of the toe. 

 e. Middle toe with claw not shorter than tarsus; (no white wing bars); 

 bill rather long, 

 y. (Tail feathers blotched with white.) . . Protonotaria, 508. 

 JJ'. (Tail feathers without white.) 



g. Bill very much compressed; culmen straight, with a ridge 



at base Helinaia, 509. 



^r^. Bill slightly compressed; culmen gently curved, the basal 



portion not ridged Helmitherus, 510. 



ee. Middle toe with claw decidedly shorter than naked portion of 

 tarsus in front (except in Dtndroica dominica, a species with 

 white wing bars). 



h. Rictus without bristles ; bill very acute, scarcely notched ; (tail 



feathers with or without white). Helminthophaga, 511. 



hh. Rictus with bristles. 



i. Tail scarcely rounded, usually much shorter than wing; 



(tail blotched with white or with the inner web bright 



yellow ; legs and feet moderate, usually dark colored). 



j. Hind toe evidently longer than its claw; bill acute, not 



notched Parula, 512. 



jj. Hind toe scarcely longer than its claw; bill usually 

 not very acute, and with a slight notch toward its 



tip Denoroipa, SI-'?. 



a. Tail usually more or less rounded, not very nuKh sliorter 

 than wing; legs and feet strong, usually pale; (no white 

 or bright yellow on tail feathers). 



h. (Lower parts much streaked.) . . Seiupus, 514. 

 kk. (Lower parts not streaked.). - Geothlypis. 515. 

 bb. Bill stout, much compressed, its greatest depth half its length from nos- 

 tril to tip; outer side of tarsus smooth on its upper half; tail longer 

 than wings; bill without notch or bristles; (large, more than 7). Chats. 



ICTKRIA, 516. 

 no. Bill depressed, broader than deep at base, notched and slightly hooked, 

 with strong rictal bristles about half the length of bill; length 52 or less. 

 Fly-catchinc; Warblers. 



