ANALYSIS OP SYLVICOLID^ 203 



for the reader's convenience. Waiving the question of absolute 

 rank in the scale of classification, we find among our North 

 American Warblers at least three strongly marked groups, into 

 which I divided our Warblers in the "Key"; and I shall ad- 

 here for the present to these divisions, which seem as natural 

 as they are convenient. They only differ from those proposed 

 by Baird in the union of his GeotMypinw with Sylvicolince. One 

 of these groups, Icteriince, is so peculiar that it has often been 

 altogether removed from the family. Another includes the 

 well-marked " Fly-catching Warblers"; the other covers the bal- 

 ance of the family. These groups, conventionally rated as sub- 

 families, may be thus distinguished : — 



Analysis of subfamilies. 



Sylvicolince. — ^Wings longer than tail (except in Geothlypis) ; bill conical, 

 sleudor; commissure slightly curved, with short bristles or none. Size 

 moderate. 



Icteriince. — Wings shorter than tail ; bill compressed, high, very stont ; 

 commissure much curved, without any bristles ; size very large. 



SetophagincB. — Wings longer than tail; bill broad, flattened ; commissure 

 slightly curved, with bristles reaching far beyond the nostrils. 



Subfamily SYLVICOLINCE: Tede Waeblees 



Chars. — Bill con oid-elou gate, shorter than head, about as 

 high as, or rather higher than, wide opposite the nostrils, not 

 hooked, and with but a slight notch, if any, at tip : commissure 

 straight or slightly curved ; a few rictal bristles, reaching little, 

 if any, beyond the nostrils, or none. Wings pointed, longer 

 than the narrow, nearly even tail. 



This beautiful group, which comprehends the great majority 

 of the Warblers, is specially characteristic of North America, and 

 reaches its highest development in the eastern portions of the 

 continent, mainly through the preponderance of species of the 



ICTBRlANiE. Bill without notch, or rictal bristles. Culmen and commis- 

 sure much curved Wings much jrounded, shorter than the tail. 

 [Sections loteriece (genus Icteria) and the exotic Teretristece.'\ 



Bill depressed ; rictus with long bristles. 



Setophagin(B. Dill much depressed, considerably broader than high ; the 

 tip more or less hooked, with distinct notch. Bristles lengthened, reaching 

 half way or more from the nostrils to tip of bill. FlyoatcMng Warblers. 



[Genera Myiodioctes, Cardellina, and Setophaga, with their respective 

 subdivisions.] 



