AMERICAN WARBLERS. 

 Family Miiiotiltidju'. 



Small birds, less than six inches lono-. The bill is nev^ 

 tr longer than the head The elongated flight primaries 

 are nine. The tail feathers are twelve. The colors of most 

 of the species are conspicuous and showy, yellow, black, 

 and white, appearing in patches and streakings, while oth- 

 ers are prominently marked with orange, salmon etc. Re- 

 stricted in distribution to the continent of America and 

 adjacent islands. 



The size of the members of this family is quite uniform, the smallest 

 species being about four and a half inches long and the largest not over five 

 and three quarters inches long. The bill is variable in length. In the s])ec- 

 ies which we have under consideration, it is shortest proportionately in the 

 Flycatching Warblers, notably in the Wilson's Black Cap ( See Fig. 1, A ) and 

 longest in the Yellow-throated Warbler. ( See Fig. 1, B). It is usually .slen- 



FiG. K 



A, bin of Wilson's Black Cap. 

 B, bill of Yellow-throated Warbler. 



C, bill ofBlaekand White Creeper 

 D, bill of Redstart. 



der. not being wider at the base than one half its length, as in most members 

 of Wood Warblers, ( Dendorica ) but in some of the Flycatching Warblers it is 

 wider at the base than one half its length. It is much slenderer in the Black 

 and White Creeper ( See Fig. I , C ) and widest in the Redstart ( See Fig. 1,1) . 

 There are usually few bristles at the base as in the Black and White Creeper 

 , See Fig. 1, C) but in the Flycatching Warblers, the bristles are strongly de- 

 veloped (See Fig. 1,1)). The bill is slightly notched at the tip. but never 

 prominently so, nor is it hooked at the tip. nor are the edges of the mandibles 

 angled. 



The head is not disproportionately large, and the eyes are not especially 

 prominent. 



