514 PASSERIFORMES CHAP. 
short and broad. The tail, which in some twenty genera contains 
but ten feathers, varies from square to rounded, being rarely 
emarginated, but not uncommonly graduated, as in Locustella, 
Cisticola, and elsewhere; it is much lengthened and widened 
in Laticilla, broad and soft in Bradypterus, and so forth. In 
Sphenoeacus, Dromacocercus, and the still longer-tailed Stipit- 
urus the rectrices are spiny with curiously decomposed webs; in 
Orthotomus the median pair are elongated during summer in the 
male; in Sylviella the rump-feathers nearly hide the tail itself. 
The usual coloration in both sexes is plain greyish or brown, 
with rufous, buff, white, or yellowish lower parts, and frequently 
spots, stripes, and streaks. Many forms, however, shew more 
or less black or red hues, often in the form of a cap; others, as 
Cryptolopha, Habrornis, Tickellia, and Phyllergates exhibit brilliant 
yellows and greens, relieved by grey, black, chestnut, and white ; 
Orthotomus and some species of Prinia, Hapalis, and Euprinodes 
are hardly duller; while Phylloscopus, Acanthopneuste, Regulus, 
Hypolais, Neornis, and <Acanthiza vary from yellow-green to 
brown and buffabove. Regulus, Phyllergates, and certain members 
of Cisticola, have red, orange, or yellow crowns; Acanthiza has 
scaly frontal feathers; the male of Séipiturus a blue throat ; 
Myiomoira is black and white, with a yellow and orange breast in 
one case; Stiphrornis has an orange throat in two; Leptopoecile 
shews a blue wash on the rump and lower surface. 
Sub-fam. 4. Polioptilinae.—The Gnatcatchers, with the sole 
genus Polioptila, have very slender bills, moderate rictal bristles, 
metatarsi scutellated anteriorly, shortish wings, and graduated 
tails. They are blue-grey above, with black rectrices, externally 
marked with white; and are greyish or white below. White shews 
occasionally on the wing, and some males have black heads. 
Sub-fam. 5. Miminae.—The American Mocking-birds have fairly 
long bills, which are little decurved except in Harporhynchus, but 
are frequently notched, and bristly at the gape. The metatarsi are 
usually strong and distinctly scutellated in front, though more 
slender in Oreoscoptes and Melanoptila, and sometimes quite smooth 
in the latter and Galeoscoptes ; the wings are shortish and rounded, 
with well-developed outer primary; the tail is rather long and is 
generally broad and much graduated, but is narrower and squarer 
in Oreoscoptes. The usual coloration is dull brown, rufous, and grey, 
varied by white on the remiges and rectrices, and by an occasional 
