SYLVIID.E — THE SVI-VIAS. 



77 



Suckley, however, regarded it as a transient visitor, rather than a winter resi- 

 dent of that region, and far more abundant from ab(jut the 8th of April to 

 the 20th of May, when it seemed to be migrating, than at any other time. 



I)r. Kennerly fonnd these birds in abundance near Espia, Mexico, and 

 afterwards, during January, among the Aztec Mountains, .and again, in 

 February, along the Bill Williams Fork. He describes them as lively, 

 active, and busy in the pursuit of their insect food. They seem to be 

 e(pially abundant at this season in California, Arizona, and Colorado. 



Mr. Kidgway found them common in June and July among the coniferous 

 woods high upon the Wahsatch Mountains in Utah, and has no doubt that 

 thev breed there. 



Mr. Dall found this species abundant at Nulato, Alaska, in the spring 

 of 1868, preferring the thickets and alder-bushes away from tlie river-bank. 

 They appeared very courageous. A pair that seemed about to commence 

 building a nest in a small clump of bushes tore to pieces one half finislied, 

 belonging to a pair of Scolccophagus fernujincuSy and, on the blackbirds' 

 return, attacked the female and drove her away. This was early in June, 

 and Mr. Dall was compelled to leave without being able to witness the 

 sequel of tlie contest. 



A straggling specimen of this bird was taken in 1860 at Nenortatik, in 

 Greenland, and sent in the flesh to Copenliagen. 



SUBFAMIT.V POLIOPTILIN^. 



The characters of this subfamily will be found on page 61). 



Gems POLIOPTILA, Sclat. 



I'olioptlht, ScLATKU, Vy. Zool. Soc. 1855, 11. (Tyi»e, MotnciUa cocruhu.) 



Char. Bill slender, attenuated, but depressed at the base ; nearly as long as the head, 

 distinctly notcluvl at the tip, and provided with 

 moderate rictal bristU's. Nostrils rather elon^-ated 

 not concealed, but anterior to the frontal feathers. 

 Tarsi lon<rer than the middle toe, distinctly scutellate; 

 the toes small ; the hinder one scarcely lonirer than 

 the lateral ; its claw scarcely lonjrcr than the middle. 

 Outer lateral toe longer than the inner. First pri- 

 mary about one third the longest; second equal to 

 the seventh. Tail a little longer than the wings, 

 moderately graduated; the feathers rounded. Xest 

 felted and covered with moss or lichens, 

 ish-white, spotted with purplish-brown. 



The species all lead-color above : white beneath, and to a greater or less 



Fggs gnnm- 



PolioptUa citruka. 



