238 REVIEW OF AMERICAN BIRDS. [PART I. 
The preceding synopsis is strictly empirical, and intended merely 
to aid in distinguishing the genera. A more natural order of 
sequence is to arrange the genera into three groups, of which Sefo- 
phaga, Myiodioctes, and Cardellina respectively may be considered 
as types, with several divergent forms, representing each other in 
the following order :— 
Tail broad, rounded, a little or considerably longer than the wings. Bill 
broad and flat :— 
SETOPHAGA. Setophaga, 
Luthlypis, 
Mytoborus. 
Tail narrow, nearly even, and about equal to the wings. Bill broad, de- 
pressed :— 
Myiopiocres. Myiodioctes, 
Basileuterus, 
Idiotes, 
Myiothlypis. 
Tail as in preceding. Bill narrow, Parine in appearance. Culmen 
curved :— 
CarpEtuina. Cardellina, 
Ergaticus. 
In these three divisions, typical Setophaga, Myiodioctes, and Car- 
dellina, respectively, have the wing long and sharp-pointed ; the 
others succeeding these have the wing shorter, more rounded, and 
exhibit other divergent characters. I am by no means disinclined 
to restrict the genera of Sefophagex to the above mentioned three, 
or at least to four, including Bastleuterus, and to consider the others 
as only sections or subgenera. There scarcely appears to be any 
alternative to this view than to accept all the others mentioned as 
of independent generic rank. 
MYIODIOCTES, Auvncnoy. 
Myiodioctes, AupuBox, Synopsis, 1839, 48. (Type Motacilla mitrata, 
Gu.)—Bairp, Birds N. Am. 1858, 291. 
Wilsonia, Bonar. List, 1838 (preoccupied in botany). 
Myioctonus, CABANIS, Mus. Hein. 1850, 18. (Type Jlotacilla mitrata.) 
Bill broad, depressed; the lateral outlines a little concave; the bristles 
reaching not quite half way from nostrils to tip. Culmen and commissure 
nearly straight to near the tip. Nostrils oval, with membrane above. Wings 
pointed, rather longer than the nearly even but slightly rounded tail; Ist 
quill shorter than the 4th, much longer than 5th; the 2d and 3d quills longest. 
Tarsi rather lengthened, the scutellar divisions rather indistinct ; the middle 
toe without claw, about three-fifths the tarsus. 
a 
