166 REVIEW OF AMERICAN BIRDS. [PART I. 
which one unacquainted with the subject can readily determine the 
group to which a species or genus may belong. 
Bill conical ; its bristles very short, or wanting. 
Sylvicolinz. Bill conical, or about as high as wide, or even 
higher, opposite the nostrils. Gape with short bristles, not 
reaching beyond the nostrils ornone. Tip of bill not hooked ; 
with or without a faint notch ; commissure nearly straight. 
Wings long and pointed; considerably longer than the 
narrow, nearly even tail. Legs short and weak; tarsi not 
as long as the head (except in Mniotilta). 
Basgl joint of inner toe adherent for its basal half; basal 
Joint of outer toe, and part of the next, adherent (in all 
other Sylvicolide the inner toe cleft nearly to the base, 
and second joint of outer toe free). Hind toe lengthened, 
nearly equal tothe middle ; the digit considerabiy longer 
than the claw. Creeping Warblers. Genera: Mniotilta, 
Parula : - = : : : : - - Mniotiltex. 
Hind toe but little, if any, longer than the lateral; the 
digit about equal to the claw. 
Bill entirely without notch, except Protonotarius ; 
no rictal bristles. Swamp Warblers. Genera: Pro- 
tonotarius, Helminthophaga, Helmitherus : . Vermivoree. 
Bill notched. Rictus with distinct bristles, reaching 
nearly to the nostrils. Wood Warblers. Genera: 
Perissoglossa, Dendroica. = ‘ - Sylvicolec. 
Geothlypine. Bill muchas in Sy/vicoline ; with distinct notch ; 
slender, or stout, the culmen gently curved; the commis- 
sure nearly straight. Legs much developed; tarsi longer 
than the skull. Bristles of rictus short, but appreciable. 
Ground Warblers. 
Wings pointed ; longer than the nearly even tail. Genera: 
Seiurus, Oporornis ; ‘ 5 : = “ . Seuiree. 
Wings much rounded; shorter than the graduated tail. 
Genus: Geothlypis . . . ° : : . Geothlypec. 
Icterianz. Bill without notch, or rictal bristles. Culmen and 
commissure much curved. Wings much rounded; shorter 
than the tail. 
Bill very high. Tail graduated. Outer toe deeply cleft. 
Genera: Icteria, Granatellus . : - : : . Icteriex. 
Bill slender. Tail nearly even. Outer toe adherent for 
basal half. Genus: Teretristis . - - ; . Teretristee. 
Se 
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