96 THE WORLD'S BIRDS. 



appear to grade into the Tanagers (Tanagrince) on the 

 one hand and the Sugar-Birds (Ccerebina) on the other. 

 Their nests are open and cup-shaped as a rule. 



They are usually migratory, the majority breeding in 

 the Northern portions of the American Continent. 



The most familiar species is the Golden Warbler 

 (Dendroica aestiva), olive-green, with bright yellow 

 head and underparts. 



The Black-and-white Creeper (Mniotilta varia) gets 

 its name from its colours and habits ; it is a climbing 

 species. The so-called American Redstart (Setophaga 

 ruticilla) is one of this subfamily ; it has the base 

 of the tail and a bar on the wings richly coloured, 

 red in the male, yellow in the female. 



The Water-thrush (Seiurus naevius) is much like a 

 Pipit in appearance, gait and actions, but olive above 

 and faint yellow below. 



The Oven-Bird (Seiurus auncapillus), not to be con- 

 fused with the true Oven-Bird of South America, much 

 resembles a small Song- thrush, with a rusty crown 

 and black eyebrows. 



These two last species walk instead of hopping. 



All the above birds but the Black-and-white Creeper 

 have been exhibited in the London Zoological Gardens, 

 where they arrived by exchange with those of New 

 York. 



The Ant-birds (Formicariince) of South America do 

 not appear to restrict themselves specially to a diet of 

 ants, although undoubtedly insectivorous. In general 

 habits they seem to approach the Babblers of the Old 

 World, as well as in form, but may be distinguished by 

 the separate scaling of the back of the shank, the 

 Babblers having this covered by a continuous plate 

 in the usual way. They build open nests, and are even 

 less melodious than the Babblers ; their beak is usually 

 stouter and more hooked than in those birds, and their 

 plumage commonly barred across with light and dark. 



