MNIOTILTID.E. — CLXXIII. 297 



the Warblers are pleasing songsters, but none exbibit any remark- 

 able powers in that line. The name " Warbler " comes from their 

 resemblance to the warblers of Europe (Sylviidce) and not from 

 any distinguished musical quality of their own. All are insectivo- 

 rous and migratory. 



This family consists of more than 100 species, all American. 

 The Mniotilticlte grade perfectly into the Ccercbidte and Tanagridce, 

 and the last as perfectly into the Fringillidce. Convenience is the 

 only excuse for retaining any of these groups as distinct families. 



a. Bill not depressed and fly-catcher-like ; rictal bristles if present scarcely 



reaching beyond nostrils. 



b. Bill rather slender, little compressed; (small birds; length less than 6 \). 



d. Hind toe with claw very long, as lung as tarsus in front; claw of 



middle toe in same line as axis of the toe ; (color black and white, 



no yellow) Mniotilta, 507. 



dd. Hind toe with claw much shorter than naked portion of tarsus in 

 front; claw of middle toe (seen from above) set obliquely to axis 

 of the toe. 

 e. Middle toe with claw not shorter than tarsus ; (no white wing bars) ; 

 bill rather long. 

 f. (Tail feathers blotched with white.) . . Protonotaria, 508. 

 Jf. (Tail feathers without white.) 



g. Bill very much compressed ; culmen straight, with a ridge 



at base Helinaia, 50'J. 



gg. Bill slightly compressed; culmen gently curved, the basal 



portion not ridged Helmitherus, 510. 



ee. Middle toe with claw decidedly shorter than naked portion of 

 tarsus in front (except in Dtndroica dominica, a species with 

 white wing bars). 



h. Rictus without bridles; bill very acute, scarcely notched ; (tail 



feathers with or without white). Helmihthofhila, 511. 



hh. Rictus with bristles. 



i. Tail scarcely rounded, usually much shorter than wing; 



(tail blotched with white or with the inner web bright 



yellow ; legs and feet moderate, usually dark colored). 



j. Hind toe evidently longer than its claw; bill acute, not 



notched Compsothlypis, 512. 



jj. Hind toe scarcely longer than its claw; bill usually 

 not very acute, and with a slight notch toward its 



tip Dendroica, 513. 



ii. Tail usually more or less rounded, not very much shorter 

 than wing; legs and feet strong, usually pale; (no white 

 or bright yellow on tail feathers). 



k. (Lower parts much streaked.) . . Sf.iurus, 514. 

 hk. (Lower parts not streaked.). . Geothlypis. 515. 

 lb. Bill stout, much compressed, its greatest depth half its length from nos- 

 tril to tip; outer side of tarsus smooth on its upper half; tail longer 

 than wings; bill without notch or bristles; (large, more than 7). Chats. 



Icteria, 516. 

 aa. Bill depressed, broader than deep at base, notched and slightly hooked, 

 with strong rictal bristles about half the length of bill; length 5i or less. 

 Flv-catching Warblers. 



