Io PASSERES 
moderately long, rather rounded; tip formed by fourth and fifth primaries, which are nearly 
equal in length, third scarcely shorter; first primary about half as long as second. Secondaries 
broad and rather long, Tail as long as, or somewhat longer than, wing, much rounded, the 
rectrices rather narrow with rounded tip. Tarsus long and slender, twice as long as middle toe 
without claw, the acrotarsium distinctly scutellate; toes slender, the lateral ones about equal 
in length to hallux. Plumage soft, but not so copious as in the other genera of the subfamily. 
Coloration, Above grey or bluish grey, the pileum wholly or partly black in the adult 
males of most species; tail black with a greater or lesser extent of white on outermost rectrices; 
under parts white, pale grey, or creamy. Females duller in colour, without any black on pileum. 
The young resemble the adult females. P. schistaccigula Hartert differs very markedly in 
coloration : The white in the tail is restricted to a narrow apical margin of the outermost rectrix, 
the general colour of the plumage is dark slate grey, almost blackish on pileum, with the 
exception of the axillaries, middle of abdomen and under tail coverts, which are pure white. 
Besides a narrow rim round the eye, a narrow line from rictus to eye and a few minute spots 
on upper throat are also white. 
Habits. The Gnat-catchers trequent the forests in small flocks, feeding on insects, and, 
in their habits, are reported to resemble our Tits. Their nest, a deeply cup-shaped, compact 
structure of plant-fibers, spiders’ webs, mosses and other soft material, outside often ornamented 
with small bright-coloured lichens, is attached to branches of trees. The clutch consists of five 
yale greenish blue or bluish white eggs, speckled with reddish brown. 
} s Ss 
Geographical Distribution. Warmer parts of North America, Cuba, Bahama Island, 
Central- and South America, except the extreme south. 
Twenty-five species and subspecies are known, most of which belong to the northern’ 
portion of the Neotropical region, 
KEY TO THE SPECIES AND SUBSPECIES OF POLIOPTILA 
1. Lail very much graduated, the outermost rectrvix being about half as 
long as central pair. Wing never move than gomm. . . . 1. P. LEMBEYEI I). 
— Tail rounded or slightly graduated, the outermost rectrix being more 
Nv 
than six-sevenths as long as central pay. Wing 45 mm. oy move. . . . . . . . . . : 
On 
2. Oulermost vectrix with more than terminal half white . 
— Outermost rectrix with much less than terminal fourth white . . . . . . . . . . . se 35 
3. Top and sides of the head dark slate grey like back ; throat and foreneck 
dull slate grey, strongly contrasted with the silky white of breast 
anadiabdomey. « 5 . 2 = woe 4 J «© i) fen eh) 20 SCHISTACEYGUIDAm acl) s 
— Top of the head glossy bluish-black, back slate grey ov plumbeous ; under 
parts mearly wiufoym ereyish white ov ughy gyey. (00. 96 = 5) =) eens ete 
1) The adult males have a curved black line bordering upper and posterior margin of the auricular region. The 
forehead is pale ashy-grey like the remaining upper parts, Sides of the head and under parts very pale grey, nearly white 
on abdomen. 
2) Female unknown. 
