238 BIRDS — SYLTICOLID^. 



Sub-family SYLVICOLIN^ Typical Warblers. 



Bill coDoid-elongate, shorter than the head, about as high as or higher than wide at 

 the nostrils, not hooked, but with a slight notch, or none, at tip, commissure straight 

 or slightly curved; a few riotal bristles, reaching little if any beyond the nostrils, or 

 none, wings ointed, longer (except in Geothli/pis) than the narrow, nearly even tail. 



Genus MNIOTILTA. Vieillot. 

 Bill nearly as long as the head, compreesed, notched some distance from the tip. Riotas 

 unbristled. Wings long, much longer than the slightly rounded tail. Tarsus rather 

 short about equal to the middle toe, and but little longer than the hind toe which is 

 very long, its digit nearly twice as long as its claw. 



Mniotilta varia (L.) V. 



I31acli-and.-"Wliite Creeper- 



. Sylvia varia, Kirtland, ObiD Gecdog. Surv., 18.38, 163, 182. 



Mniotilta varia, Audubon, B, Am , ii, 1H41, 10.'>. — Read, Proc. Philad. Acad. Nat. Sol., vi, 

 18.=i3, 39.1,— Wheaton, Ohio Agrio. Rep. for 1860, 3C3 ; Reprint, 1861,5; Food of 

 Birds, etc , Ohio Agric Rep. for 1874, ^S'-i ; Reprint, 1875, 3 — Langdon, Cat. Birds 

 ofCin., 1877, 5; Revised List, Journ. Gin. Soc. Nat. Hist., i, 1879, 171 ; Reprint-, 5. 

 Motacilla varia, Linn^us, Syst. Nat., i, 176B, 333. 



Sylvia varia, Latham, Ind. Orn., ii, 1". 90 539. , 



Mniotilta varia, Vikiixot, Anal., 1816, 45. 



Enurely whitd and black, ia streaks except on the belly. Tail white spotted ; wings 

 white baned. Length, about 5 ; wing, 'ii ; tail, 2i 



Habitat, Easteru North America. Mexico. Bogota. West.Indies. Bermuda. 



Common summer resident. Bree(is. Arrives in the vicinity of Col- 

 umbus the last week in April and remains until September. During the 

 migrations generally dispersed in woodland, but retires to breed to 

 secluded spots, preferably, second growth, mixed woodland. With few 

 exceptions those members of this family which breed in this latitude are 

 the first to arrive in spring and the first to depart in fall. This bird is 

 no exception to the rule. 



The Biack-and- White Creeper, as its name indicates, approaches more 

 nearly in its habits to the true Creepers than any other member of the 

 family. It is generally seen on the trunks of trees, climbing upwards, 

 downwards, or laterally with ease. In May, August and September, it 

 is a frequent visitor in the city, and during all these months its song, a 

 sharp and not very pleasant warble may be heard. 



The nest is placed on the ground, constructed of leaves, fibres of bark, 



and grass, lined with hair. The eggs are creamy-white spotted and 



blotched with reddish. The young are fully fledged the last week in 



June. 



Gbnus PAEULA. Bonaparte. 



Bill considerably shorter than the head, depressed at base, attenuated at tip ; notch 

 usually obsolete or wanting. Wings considerably longer than tail. Tarsus but little 

 longer than its digit. Claw of hind toe nearly two-thirds its digit. 



