SETOPHAGA. 953 
SETOPHAGA, Swainson. 
SETOPHAGA, Swains. 
Setophaga, Swainson, Zool. Jour. III, Dec. 1827,360. (Type Muscicapa 
ruticilla, L.)—Batrp, Birds N. Am. 1858, 297. 
Sylvania, Nurratu, Man. Orn. I, 1832. (Same type.) 
Bill much depressed, the lateral outlines straight towards tip. Bristles 
reach half way from nostril to tip. Culmen almost straight to near the tip ; 
commissure very slightly curved. Nostrils oval, with membrane above them. 
Wings rather longer than tail, pointed; 2d, 3d, and 4th quills nearly equal ; 
1st intermediate between 4th and 5th. Tail rather long, rather rounded ; the 
feathers broad, and widening at ends, the outer web narrow. Tarsi with 
scutellar divisions indistinct externally. Legs slender; toes short, inner 
cleft nearly to base of 1st joint, outer with Ist joint adherent; middle toe 
without claw, not quite half the tarsus. 
The description above given is based upon the type of the genus— 
S. ruticilla. Of the many species referred by authors to Setophaga 
the only one that corresponds with it in most of these characters is 
the Mexican S. picta. This is quite similar in most points, but 
differs in the wing being a little less pointed, the 1st quill about 
equal to or a little longer than the 5th. The feet are quite differ- 
ent—the toes being considerably longer, so that the middle toe with- 
out claw is two-thirds the tarsus. The claws are proportionally 
longer, perhaps less curved, and the scutelle more distinct on the 
outside of tarsus. The South and Middle American species, hereto- 
fore assigned to this genus, are all characterized by peculiar features 
readily distinguishing them from §. ruticilla, and are certainly 
entitled to subgeneric rank. 
As far as I now recollect S. ruticilla is the ofly one of the Seto- 
phage in which the sexes are certainly dissimilar. The rule is the 
reverse in the other Sylvicolide. 
In the following synopsis I combine the principal species belonging 
to Setophaga, Myioborus, and Euthlypis :-— 
a. End of lateral tail feathers black. Sexes dissimilar. 
Belly white. Setophaga. 
Ground color black, without vertex spot. Sides of 
breast and bases of quills and tail feathers red- 
dish-orange in male, yellowish in female . . ruticilla, Sw. 
b. Lateral tail feathers, including their tips, white. Sexes similar. 
Belly vermilion- or carmine-red. 
