58 BIRDS. 



often very difficult. Many of the Warblers are pleasing 

 songsters, but none exhibit any remarkable powers in 

 that line. All are insectivorous and migratory. 



This family consists of more than a hundred species, 

 chiefly North American, and embraces quite a wide 

 variety, so that the group can perhaps be only* distin- 

 guished negatively. The SylvicolidcB grade perfectly 

 into the TanayridoB and Ccerebidce^ and probably the 

 three families, and perhaps the FringittiddB^ also, should 

 be merged into one. Our species are divisible into 

 three very distinct sub - families, indicated below. 



I. Bill slender, not hooked, as high as wide at base, with short 

 bristles not reaching much beyond nostrils, or none ; wings 

 longer than tail (except GeotUypis) ; length 6| or less. True 

 Warblers. (SYLVICOLIN^E.) 



* Tail feathers, some or all of them blotched with white, 

 f Rictus with evident bristles. 



Tarsus shorter than middle toe and claw; entirely black 

 and white, streaked. . . . MNIOTILTA, 1. 



$ Tarsus not shorter than middle toe and claw. 



a. Hind toe decidedly longer than its claw ; bill acute, 

 scarcely notched ; bluish, throat and middle of back 



with yellow COMPSOTHLYPIS, 2. 



aa. Bill very acute, notched, perceptibly decurved, so 



that the gonys is slightly concave; rump and under 



parts chiefly yellow. . . PERISSOGLOSSA, 6. 



aaa. Warblers without above characters. DENDRCECA, 7. 



ff Rictus without evident bristles. 



b. Whole head and neck bright yellow ; Jbill notched, half 

 inch or more long. . . . PROTONOTARIA, 3. 

 Ib. Whole head and neck not yellow; bill acute, not 

 notched nor bristled, less than half inch long. 



HELMINTHOPHILA, 5. 



** Tail feathers yellow on inner webs; outer webs dusky; 

 plumage chiefly yellow. . . . DENDROSCA, 7. 



