18S5.] Brewster oh Sivninsot?& Warbler. ^Q 



upper parts immaculate. The yellow of the median stripe on the forehead 

 is usually restricted to the bases of the feathers, hut in some specimens it 

 extends to their tips, forming a conspicuous marking. In others again it 

 is wholly wanting. 



The place which Helinaia should occupy in systematic lists 

 is a somewhat puzzling question. Its long wings, large, flesh- 

 colored feet, and sluggish terrestrial habits indicate an affinity 

 with Oporornis ; its acute, compressed bill and short tarsi a per- 

 haps stronger one with Helmitherus . In many respects it seems to 

 form a connecting link between these two genera, with Helmith- 

 erus extending the chain towards Helminthophila. Baird 

 apparently held some such view in 18^8, for he placed Helmith- 

 erus (in which he included Helinaia) between Icteria and 

 Helminthophila^ and Oporornis immediately before Icteria. 

 Subsequently he separated Helminthophila further from Opor- 

 ornis by the intervention of the additional genera Perisso- 

 glossa, Dendrozca, and Siurus, and later authorities have 

 widened the gap still more. Leaving out of consideration the 

 Ccerebidae, a troublesome famil) which seems to grade insensibly 

 into the Sylvicolidae through such genera as Helminthophila and 

 Perissoglossa, our North American Sylvicolidae might be very 

 naturally arranged as follows: 1, Mniotilta ; 2, Deridrcecd (in- 

 cluding Perissoglossa and Peucedramus as sub-genera) ; 3, 

 Protonotaria ; 4, Parula; 5, Helminthophila; 6, Helmith- 

 erus ; 7, Helinaia; 8, Siurus; 9, Oporornis ; 10, Gcothlypis ; 

 11, Icteria; \z. Myiodioctes ; 13, Setophaga ; 14, Cardellina ; 

 15, Rrgaticns ; 16, Basil en terns. The Ccerebidae, however, 

 cannot be thus conveniently ignored, and the general subject is far 

 too important and comprehensive to lie discussed within the 

 limits of the present paper. 



Recapitulation. — Within the United States Swainson's War- 

 bler has been taken only in South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, 

 Alabama, and Texas. There is but one extralimital record 

 (Havana, Cuba). It has been erroneously accredited to New 

 England, on incomplete evidence to Southern Illinois. It is not 

 known to winter within the United States, but on the contrary 

 seems to emigrate southward before the approach of cold weather 

 (latest date, September 25), returning again in April (earliest date, 

 April 13). It has occurred in numbers only near Charleston. 

 South Carolina. [*] where alone it has been positively ascertained 



[* Cf. p. 62 of this number of 'The Auk.' — Edd.] 



