234 



U. S. p. E. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS — ZOOLOGY — GENERAL REPORT. 



NEOCOKYS SPEAGUEI, Sclater. 



Missonri Skylark. 



Mauda spraguei, Aud. Birds Amer. VII, 1843, 335 ; pi. 486. 



Jl^odoma spragud, Baird, Stansbury's report G. Salt Lake, 1852, 329.— Bonap. Notes Delattre, 1854. 



•N'eocorys spraguei, Sclater, Pr. Zool, See. 1857,5. 



Sp. Ch. — Above wood brown, all the feathers edged with paler, especially on the neck, where there is a brownish yellow 

 tinge. The under parts are dull white, with a collar of sharply defined narrow brown streaks across the fore part and along 

 the sides of the breast. Lores and a superciliary line whitish. Tail feathers, except the middle ones, dark brown ; the outer 

 one white, the second white, with the inner margin brown. The outer primary is edged with white, and there are two dull 

 whitish bknds acroes the wings. Bill and feet yellow, the former brown above. Length, (female,) 5.75 ; wing, 3.35 ; tail, 2.50. 



Hah. — About Fort Union, Nebraska. 



This little known species has the general appearance of a titlark, but is readily distinguished 

 from Anthus ludovicianus by the purer white of its under parts; the much paler margins to the 

 feathers above, the entirely white external tail feather, the yellow legs and bill, as well as by its 

 general peculiarities. In its song and general habits it approaches nearer the European sky- 

 lark than any bird belonging to our fauna. 



This species has thus far been seen only in the vicinity of Fort Union. 



Sub-Family SYLVICOLINAE. 



The characters of this extensive sub-family are sufficiently expressed in the synopsis on 

 page 231. The variety of form is very great, but the transitions are so imperceptible as to 

 render it a matter of much difficulty to define the genera with precision. The entire group 

 appears to be wanting in the Old World. It may be conveniently divided into the following 

 sections : 



A. — Rictus with short bristles or none. 



Mniotilteab. — Bill notched. Hind toe longer than the lateral ones, its claw shorter than 

 the digit. Wings pointed. Tail nearly even, spotted. 



Geothlypeab. — Bill notched. Legs very stout. Hind toe longer than the lateral; its claw 

 equaJ to the digit. Tail unspotted. 



ICTERiEAB. — Bill without notch, very stout, much compressed. Commissure and culmen both 

 much curved . 



Vermivokeae. — Bill entirely without a notch ; conical, slender, weak, acutely pointed. 



Stlvicoleab. — Bill notched. Wings pointed. Hind toe equal to the lateral. 



B. — Rictus with well developed bristles. 

 Setophageab. — Bill depressed, broad, notched at tip. 



