BIRDS — SYLVICOLIDAE — MNIOTILT i VAEIA. 



235 



Section Mniotilteae. 



Bill slightly notched some distance from the tip. Rictus without bristles. Hind toe considerably developed, longer than 

 the lateral toe ; its claw decidedly longer than its digit. First quill nearly or quite as long as the second. Wings long, 

 pointed ; much longer than the tail, which is nearly even. Tail feathers with white spots. 



The following genera belong to this section : 



Mniotilta. — ^Bill from the base nearly as long as the skull, compressed. Tarsus rather 

 short, but little longer than the hind toe, which is very long, its digit nearly twice as long as 

 the claw alone; middle toe (and claw) fully as long as the tarsus. 



Parula. — Bill shorter; depressed at base and attenuated at tip; considerably shorter than 

 the head, or than the middle toe. Hind claw nearly two-thirds its digit; the middle toe and 

 claw nearly as long as the tarsus. 



Protonotaeia — Bill conical, compressed towards the end. Measured from the extreme base, 

 as long as the head, and longer than the middle toe; hind claw but little shorter than its 

 digit; the middle toe and claw only three-fourths the tarsus. 



MNIOTILTA, Vieillot. 



Mniotilta, Vieillot, Analyse, 1816. (Agassiz.) 



Ch. — General form sylvicoline ; bill rather long, compressed, shorter than the head, with very short rictal bristles, and a 

 shallow notch. Wings considerably longer than the tail, which is slightly rounded ; first quill shorter than second and third. 

 Tarsi rather short ; toes long, middle one equal to the tarsus ; hind toe nearly as long, the claw considerably shorter than its 

 digit. Color white, streaked with black. 



This genus differs from other sylvicolines in the elongation of the toes, especially the hinder 

 one, by means of which the species is enabled to move up and down the trunks of trees, like 

 the true creepers. But one species is recognized as North American, although Nuttall describes 

 a second. 



Measurements of species. 



MNIOTILTA VAEIA, Vieillot. 



Black and White Creeper. 



Motacilla vuria, Linn. Syst. Nat. I, 1766, 333. 



Certhia varitt, Vieillot, Ois. Am. Sept. II, 1807, 69.— Ann. Orn. Biog. I, 1832, 452 : V, 1839, 471 ; pi. 90. 



Mniotilta varia, Vieillot, Analyse, 1816. — Ib. Galerie Ois. I, 1834, 276 ; pi. 169.— AnnuBON, Synopsis, 1839, 71.- 



Ib. Birds Am. II, 1841, 105 ; pi. 114.—.' Gosse, Birds Jam. 1847, 134. 

 Sylvia varia, Bon. Synopsis, 1828, 81.— Nuttall, Man. I, 1832, 384. 

 Sylvicola varia, Rich. List, 1837. 



Certhia maculata, Wilson, Am. Orn. Ill, 1811, 22 ; pi. xix. 

 ? Mniotilta borealis, Nuttall, Man. I, 2d ed., 1840, 704. 



