HG Iowa Ormthologist. 



In Compsothlypis the triauoriilar black dorsal patch of the typical Oreothlypis 

 is replaced by a similar patch of bright olive-green. In some species this is dull 

 and indistinct. The Parula Warbler has, instead of a single chestnut spot on 

 the chest, a large patch of mixed chestnut, black and yellow, with a patch of 

 chestnut on either side of the breast. Oreothlypis has no white wing-bars, 

 while in Compsothlypis these are usually broad and prominent ; they are 

 wanting, however, in the Central American Parula, and are very narrow in the 

 Socorro Warbler. It is therefore seen that while structurally Oreothlypis 

 stands very near Helminthophola, in coloration it grades as strongly toward 

 Compsothlypis. Such closely connected genera are characteristic of all highly 

 specialized families. 



The genus Dendroica is the largest and most important of the family. It is 

 here that the Warbler type, both in structure and coloration, reaches its per- 

 fect development. The most plainly colored species are those whose generic 

 characters are doubtful or not strongly marked. The beak is stoxiter and less 

 acute than in the three preceeding genera and the bristles about the gape are 

 well developed. The species present such an endless variety of markings that 

 it is difificult to trace any particular pattern running through all. The sides of 

 the breast, however, are nearly always streaked with black, blue or olive on a 

 paler background. Wing-bars are present or represented in nearly every 

 species ; in the Palm, Prairie, Kirtlands and Cuban Pine Warblers, however, 

 they are wanting. In the Yellow Warbler they are merely indicated by the 

 brighter color of the tips of the wing-coverts. Two species, the Yellow-throated 

 and Palm Warblers, barely hold their place in the genus, and the latter at least 

 should probably be seperated. The Yellow-throat has the beak large and much 

 compressed and quite acute, with the bristles very small. The Palm Warbler leans 

 strongly toward Seiurus in many of its habits and both species i-esemble 

 Seiurus in having the tail nearly as long as the wing. These points are not suf- 

 ficient grounds for placing them in that genus, however. If seperated fiom 

 Dendroica, they should stand between the two in a new genus. 



Seiurus presents some characters which are very suggestive in tracing the 

 alfinities of the family. The genus embraces four species, three of which are 

 North American, and all of them large, stout Warblers, plainly colored, with a 

 close external resemblance to the Thrushes, whence their names. They are all 

 terrestrial in habits, seeking their food principally on the ground. In general 

 character they do not differ greatly from the preceeding genus. The tail is 

 never much shorter than the wing and sometimes longer. The plumage is 

 plain olivaceous or brown above and whitish beneath, conspicuously streaked 

 with dusky. The crown may be streaked as in tlie Oven Bird, or plain. ' In 

 habits this genus so closely resembles the Motacillidie, or Wagtails, that some 

 of the older ornithologists placed them in that family. It is true that the mere 

 mode of life of any animal is usually regarded as of little or no value in fixing 

 its place in a .system of cla.ssification , yet within certain limits of structural 

 resemblance, strongly marked liabits should not be di.sregarded. In this case 

 the movement of the tail and the ambulatorial gait in walking show an unmis- 

 takable close genetic connection witli the Wagtails. The structural differences 

 consist mainly in the great lengthening of the tertials, tail and hind claw of the 



