SYLVIID.E — THE SYLVIAS. 



11 



Suckley, however, regarded it as a tninsieiit visitor, ratlier than a winter resi- 

 dent of tliat region, and I'ar mure abundant from about the 8th of Ai)ril to 

 the 20tii of May, wlicn it seemed to be mignitinj,', than at any other time. 



Dr. Kennedy found tiiese birds in aljundauce near Espia, Mexico, and 

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

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

 active, and busy in the pursuit of their insect food. They seem to l)e 

 e([ually abundant at tliis season in California, Arizona, and Colorado. 



Mr. Ividgway found them conmiDn in June and July among the coniferous 

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

 they breed there. 



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

 of 1808, i)referring the thickets and alder-bushes away from tlie river-bank. 

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

 building a nest in a si^iall clump of buslies tore to jneces one half finislied, 

 belonging to a pair of Srohrophuyiis fcrniyincus, and, on the blackl)irds' 

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

 anil Mr. Dall was compelhitl to leave without being able to witness the 

 seijuel of the contest. 



A straggling specimen of this bird was taken in 18G() at Nenortatik, in 

 Greenland, and sent in tiu' Hesb to (Jopenhagen. 



SiTRFAMiiY POLIOPTILINJB. 



The characters of this subfamily will be found on i)age (ill. 



Gems POLIOPTILA, Sl 



.'L.\T. 



/■ulwiili/ii, Sci.AlKlt, I'r. Zo(il. !Soc. is:,:,, 11. (Tv|«', Moliicilhi camhu.) 



f'liAK. Hill .sl(!iulL'r, atU'niiiile<l, lint (loprcsscil ut llu- )..isi' ; m'ailv :i.s loiif,' a.s t! 

 ilistini'lly notHicil at llu- ti[), and provided willi 

 iiiihUtuIu rii'liil bristles. Nostrils nitlier eloiijrated, 

 not eoneeided, liiit anterior to the Croiital I'e-allicrs. 

 Tarsi loii^'er than the iiii<ldle toe, distiiietl.v soiitcllale; 

 the toes small; the hinder oiu' ,S(-'areely loiip'r than 

 the lateral; its elaw seareely loiipT than the middle. 

 Outer lateral toe loiifror than the inner. First pri- 

 mary nhoiit one third the lou'rest ; .second uipial to 

 tho seventh. Tail a little Umaw than the \vini;s, 

 moderately fjradnated ; the leathers romided. Nest 

 felled and covered with moss or lichens. Kj;}{s "■ret-n- 

 ish-whitc, spotted with piirpli.sh-browu. 



10 head, 



Mio/itilu cirriilra. 



The specioa all lead-color above ; white beneuth, and to ti greuttu' or \tm 



