180 



NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



Genus MNIOTILTA, Vieillot. 



Mniotilta, Vieillot, Analyse, 1816, 45. (Type, Motacilla varla, L.) 



GrEN. Char. G-eneral form sylvicoline ; bill rather long, compressed, shorter than the 

 head, with very short rictal bristles and a shallow notch. Wings considerably longer than 

 the tail, which is slightly rounded ; first quill shorter than second and third. Tarsi rather 

 short ; toes long, middle one equal to the tai-sus ; hind toe nearly as long, the claw con- 

 siderably shorter than its digit. Color white, streaked with black. Nest on ground ; eggs 

 white, blotched with red. 



This genus differs from other Sylvicolines in the elongation of the toes, 

 especially the hinder one, by means of which the species is enabled to move 

 lip and down the trunks of trees, like the true Creepers. But one species is 

 recognized as North American, althouoh Nuttall describes a second. 



Mniotilta varia, Yieill. 



BLACK AND WHITE CREEPING WARBLER, 



Motacilla varia, Linn. S. N. I, 1766, 33-3. Certhia varia, Vieillot ; Audubon. MnioiiUa 

 varia, Vieillot, Gal. Ois. I, 1834, 276, pi. clxix. — Audubon. — Baird, Bh-ds N. 

 Am. 1858, 235; Rev. 167. — Sclater, P. Z. S. 1858, 298 (Oaxaca, Xalapa) ; 1859, 

 363 (Xalapa) ; 1855, 143 (Bogota) ; 1856, 291 (Cordova) ; 1864, 172 (City of Mex.): - - 

 Ib. Catal. 1861, 25, no. 162. —Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1859, 10 (Guatemala). —Newton, 

 Ibis, 1859, 143 (Santa Cruz; winter). — Cab. Jour. Ill, 475 (Cuba; winter). — Bry- 

 ant, Pr. Bost. Soc. 1859 (Bahamas; April 20). — Gosse, Birds Jam. 134 (Jamaica; 

 winter). — Jones, Nat. Bermuda, 1859, 29 (October). — Cab. Jour. 1860, 328 (Costa 

 Rica). — Lawrence, Ann. N. Y. Lye. 1861, 322 (Panama R. R. ; winter). —Gundl. 

 Cab. Journ. 1861, 326 (Cuba ; very common). Certhia maculata, WiLS. Mniotilta 

 borealis, Nutt. Mniotilta varia, var. longirostris, Baird, Birds N. Am. 1858, xxxi, 

 no. 167. — Ib. Catal. in 8vo, 1869, no. 167. 



Figures: AuD. Orn. Biog. V, pi. xc ; Birds Am. II, pi. cxiv. — Wilson, Am. Orn. Ill, 

 pi. xix. 



Sp. Char. Bill with the upper mandible considerably decurved, the lower straight. 



G-eneral color of the male black, the feathers broadly 

 edged with wliite ; the head all i-ound black, with a 

 median stripe in the crown and neck above, a super- 

 ciliary and a maxillary one of white. Middle of belly, 

 two conspicuous bands on the wings, outer edges of 

 tertials and inner of all the wing and tail feathers, and 

 a spot on the inner webs of the outer two tail-feathers, 

 white. Rump and upper tail-coverts black, edged ex- 

 ternally with white. Female similar ; the under parts 

 white, obsoletely streaked with black on the sides and 

 under tail-coverts. Length, 5 inches ; wing, 2.85 ; 

 tail, 2.25. 

 Hab. Eastern Province of North America, and north to Fort Simpson. Both coasts 



of Mexico (as far north as Mazatlan, on west side), and southward to Bogota. Wliole 



of West Indies and Bermuda. 



Mniotilta varia, Vieill. 



