OF NEW ENGLAND. 81 



scarcely bristled. Birds wholly unstreaked. Tail not marked 

 or forked. In Geothlypis, the icings are approximately equal 

 in length to the tail. 123 



Helminthophagince, or worm-eating warblers (IV, V, VI). 

 Bill acute, unbristled, and unnotched 23 (pi. 1, fig. 7). 



Mniotiltince, or creeping warblers (VII, VIII). Bill scarcely 

 bristled, and never (very) distinctly notched ; hind-toe much 

 longer than its claw. (Except in structure, however, the Parulse 

 and Mniotiltse are widely different.) 



SylvicolincE, or wood-warblers (IX, X). Bill notched, and 

 with short bristles (pi. 1, fig. 8). Tail not unmarked, unless 

 in cestiva, where it is slightly forked. In other cases white- 

 blotched. Perissoglossce are characterized by the tongue. 



Setophagince, or fly-catching warblers (XI, XII). Bill notice- 

 ably broader than high, also notched, usually hooked, and always 

 with long bristles 23 (pi. 1, fig. 9). 



This last group is ranked as a subfamily, the others being 

 united by Dr. Cones as Sylvicolince, though Prof. Baird further 

 sets apart the Geothlypince. (For remarks on Icterince, see 10.) 

 The warblers are, no doubt, to many persons the most charm- 

 ing of our birds. They are eminently peaceful, and prettily 

 colored, brightly, sometimes brilliantly. Musically, however, 

 they are generally surpassed by the thrushes, vireos, and 

 finches. They are insectivorous, migratory, and in some cases 

 gregarious, except in summer. Among their nests are some 

 of the neatest and prettiest specimens of bird-architecture. 

 The eggs are, for the most part, four or five, white, spotted 

 with brown and lilac. 



I. SEIURUS 



(A) NOVEBORACENSIS. Water " Thrush." Water " Wagtail." 

 (Common, perhaps locally so, during their migrations 



through Massachusetts, where, however, a few breed.) 



(a). o-6 inches long. Dark brown above (tinged with 



olive). Superciliary line and under parts white, tinged with 



23 Characteristics underscored do not belong to other warblers. 

 7 



