BIRDS—SYLVICOLIDAE—HELMITHERUS. 251 
Section Vermivoreae, 
Bill entirely without notch, and with no rictal bristles. Legs variable. 
The following genera compose this section : 
Hetmrruervs.—Bill stout, only moderately acute, nearly as long as tue head, and on a line 
with the forehead. Middle toe as long as the short tarsus. Colors plain; no white on the tail. 
HeimintHopvAGa.—Dill slender, excessively acute, shorter than the head. Tarsus considerably 
longer than the middle toe. Tail feathers sometimes with a white patch. 
Comparative measurements of species. 
Catal. Species. | Locality. Sex. Length. Stretch ,Wing. Tail. | Tarsus.| Middle Its claw) Bill Along | Specimen 
No. of wings toe. | alone. | above. gape. |measured. 
— | | 
Ce escion 2.84 2.30 0.72 0.64 | 0.20 | 0.56 0.62 | 
5.41 9.25 2.92 wisls| avwaiciciie|veeicwens| sone nses [ecsevees| sees cece 
5.50) lcseveees 2.74 2.24] 0.68] 0.62) 0.20) 0.64) 0.68 | 
4 04 seeceeee 2.38 2.00 0.66 0.52 | 0.16 0.46 0.50 | 
4.50 |. cc ceee 2.30 1.96 0.65 0.50 0.16 0.46 0.50 
* 5.08 |soneeeee 2.54 216| 0.70] 0.52) 0.16) 046} 0.50 
TONG Iowa do mraseae se dOnstenc | entemererenc «jenna QE) s arAG) Neer ee 2.34 1.96] 0.60] 0.48] 0.14) 0.42) 0.50 
2903 |....6. do..... bachmani.... Charleston, 8. Cc.) 3 4.50 |. ..ceveee 2.46 2.06} 0.70] 0.50 | 0.16 0.45 0.50 
10158 | ...06- do.....peregrina.,..| Cairo, Ill ........ |eesees Oo Ree eee peel 1.83} 0.66 0.56} 0.14 0.42 0.50 
2929 |...04- dow... celata.. sees. | Columbia river...) 3 | 5.06 eee eeee 2.48 2.04 0.72) 0.58 0.16 | 0.40 0,48 
ees lie ae etl enone 2.46 2.00] 0.64) 0.52| 0.16) 0.40 0.46 
© || 4,06) ltrs. 2.31 1.90| 0.63] 0 0.14| 0.39) 0.44 
HELMITHERUS, irvaf. 
Helmitherus, Rarinesque, Journal de Physique, LXXXVIIT, 1819, 417. Type Motacilla vermivora. 
Vermivora, Swainson, Zool. Jour. 1V, 1827, 170, (not of Merer, 1822. 
Helinaia, Aup. Synopsis, 1839, 66. Type Sylvia swainsoni, Aud. 
Cu.—Bill large and stout, compressed, almost tanagrine; nearly or quite as long as the head. Culmenvery slightly 
curved ; gonys straight ; no notch in the bill; rictal bristles wanting. Tarsi short, but little longer, if any, than the middle 
toe. Tail considerably shorter than the wings; rather rounded. Wings rather long, the first quill a little shorter than the 
second and third. 
The birds of this division are very plain in their colors, more so than any other American 
warblers. There are but two species referrible to the genus, of which the 1. swainsoni differs from 
the type in having a considerably longer and more compressed bill, the ridge of which is com- 
pressed, elevated, and appears to extend backwards on the forehead, as well as to be in a straight 
line with the upper part of the head. The wings are longer; the tail forked, not rounded; the 
feathers narrower and more pointed ; the tarsi shorter than in the type. It is quite possible that 
systematic writers may hereafter find it necessary to crect this form into a distinct genus or 
sub-genus to be called Helinaia. 
Synopsis of the species. 
Colors plain. Above olivaceous, beneath nearly white. No spots or bands on wing or tail. 
Above olive green. Head yellowish, with two black stripes above and one behind the 
eyes ‘Lailkroundedis....cccssecse.s Sous asesbesdhease A rcaciecceh cortnconssesacoesits .... H. vermivorus, 
Above dull olive green, tinged with brown. Stripes on the head somewhat as in the last, 
but reddish brown; the median light stripe on the crown scarcely visible. Tail 
Blig bly stor ked Uitemesecsecsetce ster so ssis ccc: Secdad eww tenond behing. tigcttisetuiansemsnsten H, swainsoni, 
