INSESSORES. SYLVIA. 221 



streaks upon the neck and throat, which entirely vanish 

 in the old birds. 



Genus SYLVIA, Auct. SYLVIA. 



GENERIC CHARACTERS. 



Bill slender, widened at the base ; suddenly compressed in 

 front of the nasal groove ; upper mandible gently deflected 

 towards the tip, which is emarginated ; gape slightly beard- 

 ed ; nostrils basal, lateral, ovoid, and partly concealed by the 

 advancing feathers of the forehead. Wings of mean length ; 

 first quill abortive ; second shorter than the third and fourth, 

 which are the longest. Tail even at the end when expanded, 

 subfurcate when closed. Legs having the tarsi long and 

 slender. The outer toe joined at its base to the middle one 

 hind toe strong. Claws sharp, moderately curved ; that of 

 the hind toe the largest. General form slender. 



For this interesting genus (whose members are all nearly 

 allied in colour, form, and manners, and considered appa- 

 rently by the older authors as the peculiar representatives of 

 the Warblers) I have retained the name of Sylvia, although 

 Mr SwAiNsoN has bestowed that appellation vipon the Gold- 

 crests, which he considers (and I think justly) to be the ty- 

 pical form of this subfamily. These last having, however, 

 been previously characterized by Cuvier, under the title of 

 Begulus, 1 have thought it as advantageous to science, and 

 perhaps less puzzhng in respect to nomenclature, to retain 

 the names under which each group has already been recog- 

 nised. In the form of the bill, which becomes much com- 

 pressed anteriorly, they make a near approach to the Gold- 

 crests, with which their manners also in a great degree assi- 

 milate. They are birds of much alertness, and in almost 

 constant action, moving with celerity among the branches 

 and foliage of shrubs and trees ; where they search for their 



