BIRDS OF INDIANA. 1019 



f 1 . Gape without apparent bristles; bills very acute. 



HELMINTHOPHILA. 1-56 

 f 2 . Gape with distinct bristles. 

 g l . Tail blotched with white, or inner webs of tail feathers brigh 



yellow. 



A 1 . Back blue with gold spot; throat and legs yellow; bill acute, 

 notch wanting. COMPSOTHLYPIS. 157 



h 2 . Coloration otherwise; bill not acute, plainly notched. 



DENDROICA, 158 

 q 2 . Tail without white or yellow. 



i l . Length 5.50 or more; white beneath with dark streaks. 



SEIURUS. 159 

 t 2 . Length less than 5/0; yellow beneath, not streaked. 



GEOTIILYPIS. 160 



c 2 . Middle toe with claw about equal to naked portion of tarsus in front. 

 j 1 . Tail feathers partly white; head and lower parts bright 

 yellow. PROTONOTARIA. 153 



j 2 . Tail feathers without white. 



k 1 . Bill much compressed ; culmen straight, with a ridge at 

 base; top of head pale brown. HELINAIA. 164 



k 2 . Bill not much compressed, culmen gently curved, base 

 not ridged ; top of head buff with two black stripes. 



HELMITHERUS. 155 



c 2 . Size large, more than 7.00; bill stout, much compres ed, without notch or 

 bristles; tail longer than wing. ICTERIA. 161 



152. GENUS MNIOTILTA VIKILLOT. 



*253. (636). Mniotilta varia (LINN.). 



Black and White Warbler. 

 Synonyms, BLACK AND WnitE CREEPER, BLACK AND WHITE CREEPING WAHBLER. 



Adult Male. Entirely black and white in streaks, except on the 

 belly, inner webs of tail feathers with more or less white; black on top 

 of head, in front, below and behind eye; a white stripe through the 

 middle of crown; one over the eye and one on each side of throat; 

 throat, black; wing, with two white bars. Female and Immature. 

 Duller, and throat white. 



Length, 4.55-5.50; wing, 2.60-2.90; tail, 1.95-2.25. 



RANGE. America, from Colombia and Venezuela over Eastern 

 United States to Mackenzie Valley (Ft. Simpson). Breeds from Gulf 

 States northward. Winters from Florida and Gulf Coast southward. 



Nest, on ground against a bush or tree, or under a root, stone or 

 bush; composed of leaves, grasses, strips of rotten wood; lined with 

 hair, moss, rootlets or fine grass. Eggs, 5, rarely 4; white or creamy- 

 white, speckled and spotted with chestnut, bay, hazel, cinnamon, 

 rufous or lavender-gray, most abundant near large end, where often 

 arranged in wreath; .69 by .54. 



