72 



NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



The European warblers of the genus PhyUopneuste are all insect-eating 

 birds, capturing their prey while on the wing, and also feeding on their 

 larvte. They frequent the woodlands during their breeding-season, but at 

 all other times are much more familiar, keeping about dwellings and sheep- 

 folds. 



The P. trochilus is a resident throughout the entire year in Southern 

 Europe and in Central Asia. That species builds at the foot of a bush on 

 the ground, and constructs a domed nest with the entrance on one side. 

 Their eggs are five in number, have a pinkish-white ground, and are spotted 

 with well-defined blotches of reddish-brown, measuring 0.65 by 0.50 inch, 

 and are of a rounded oval shape. 



Subfamily REGULIN^. 



Char. Wings longer than the emarginated tail. Tarsi booted, or without scutellar 

 divisions. 



This subfamily embraces but a single well-defined IsTorth American 

 aenus. 



Genus REGULUS, Cuv. 



Rcgulus, Cuv. " Lemons d'Anat. Comp. 1799, 1800." (Yy\ie Motacilla rcgulus, Linn.) 

 Reguloides, Blyth. 1847. (Type " R. j^forcgulus, Pall." Gray.) 



Pltyllobasilcus, Cab. Mas. Heiu. I, 1850, 33. (Type Motacilla calendula, Linn.) — Cor- 

 thylio, Cab. Jour. Orn. I, 1853, 83. (Same type.) 



Gen. Char. Bill slender, much shorter than the head, depressed at base, but becoming 



rapidly compressed ; moderately notched at tip. 

 Culmen straight to near the tip, then gently 

 curved. Commissure straight ; gonys convex. 

 Rictus well provided with bristles ; nostril cov- 

 ered by a single bristly feather directed forwards 

 (not distinct in calendula). Tarsi elongated, ex- 

 ceeding considerably the middle toe, and without 

 scutellte. Lateral toes about ecpial ; hind toe with 

 the claw, longer than the middle one by about 

 half the claw. Claws all much curved. First 

 primary about one third as long as the longest; 

 second equal to fifth or sixth. Tail shorter than the wings, moderately forked, the feath- 

 ers acuminate. Colors olive-green above, whitish beneath. Size very small. 



We are unable to appreciate any such difference between the common 

 North American Reguli as to warrant Cabanis in establishing a separate 

 genus for the calendula. The bristly feather over the nostril is perhaps less 

 compact and close, but it exists in a rudimentary condition. 



He^ulus satrapa. 



