178 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



Subfamilies. 



A. Bill conical, its bristles very weak, or wanting. 



a. Bill sub-conical, the culmen and commissure nearly straight. 



Sylvicolinae. Feet weak, not reaching near the end of the tail. "Wing 



pointed, considerably longer than the nearly even or slightly emargi- 



nated tail. Feet dark-colored (except in Helmithenis, Helinaia, and 



Parnia). Arboreal. 



Geothlypinae. Feet strong, reaching nearly to end of the tail. Wing 



rounded. Feet pinkish-white. Terrestrial, 

 h. Bill high and compressed, the culmen and commissure much curved. 



Icterianae. Bill without notch or rictal biistles ; wing much rounded 



shorter than the tail. 



B. Bill depressed, its bristles strong. 



Setophaginae. Bill, tyrannine, considerably broader than high, the tip 

 more or less hooked, and with a distinct notch. Rictal bristles reaching 

 half-way, or more, to the tip. 



Sections and Genera. 



SyLVIC0LIN.E. 



1. Middle toe, with claw, longer than tarsus. 



Mniotilteae. Bill much compressed for terminal half, the lateral outline 

 decidedly concave ; culmen and gonys decidedly convex ; commissure 

 moderately concave. Rictal bristles very inconspicuous; notch just 

 perceptible MnioUUa. 



2. Middle toe, with claw, not longer than tarsus. 



Vermivoreae. Bill without a distinct notch, or lacking it entirely ; rictal 

 bristles wanting, or very minute ; culmen and gonys nearly straight ; bill 

 only very moderately compressed. 



a. Middle toe and claw about equal to tarsus. 



Bill not acute ; culmen and gonys decidedly convex ; notch just 

 perceptible ; bristles apparent ...... Protonotaria. 



Bill moderately acute, robust; no notch; culmen straight, its base 

 elevated and slightly arched ; bristles not apparent . . HeUnaiai 



Bill moderately acute ; robust; no notch ; culmen convex, its base 

 not elevated ; bristles apparent ...... Hehnitherus. 



b. Middle toe and claw considerably shorter than tarsus. 



Bill very acute, its outlines nearly straight ; notch not perceptible ; 

 bristles not apparent ....... Ilelminthophaga. 



Bill very acute, its outlines nearly straight; notch just perceptible; 

 liristles strong . . ....... Panda. 



Sylvicoleae. Bill distinctly notched ; rictal bristles strong ; outlines 

 generally slightly curved. 



Bill acute, gonys slightly concave ..... Perissoglossa. 



Bill not acute, gonys convex ...... Dendroica. 



GEOTHLYPIN^. 



3. Wings pointed, longer than the nearly even tail. 



Seiureae. 



Above olive-brown ; beneath white with dark streaks . . Seiurns. 



Above olive-green ; beneath yellow without streaks . . Oporornis. 



