BIKDS OF NOKTH AND MIDDLE AMEEIOA. 487 



its depth at latero-frontal antise equal to not more than one-third the 

 distance from nostril to tip of maxilla and about equal to its width at 

 same point; exposed culmen about equal to middle toe without claw, 

 very much shorter than tarsus, gently curved for most of its length 

 (straight only at base); gonys much shorter than distance from nostril 

 to tip of maxilla, straight; maxillary tomium slightly but decidedly 

 concave, without trace of subterminal notch. Nostril cuneate (pointed 

 anteriorly), overhung by a rather broad operculum, its posterior end 

 in contact with feathering of latero-frontal antise. Rictal bristles 

 wanting. Wing moderate, much rounded; seventh and sixth prima- 

 ries longest, the eighth and fifth very little shorter, or the eighth some- 

 times equal to seventh; ninth slightly shorter than first, less than 

 twice as long as tenth. Tail nearlj^ as long as wing (more than four- 

 fifths as long), much rounded (but graduation less than one-fourth its 

 length), the rectrices of uniform width throughout (or the lateral ones 

 slightly broader terminally), their tip broadly rounded. Tarsus 

 longer than middle toe with claw, a little more than two-fifths as long 

 as wing, the acrotarsium distinctly scutellate, the planta tarsi booted; 

 outer toe reaching to decidedly beyond subterminal phalanx of middle 

 toe, its claws reaching about to base of middle claw; inner toe slightly 

 longer than outer,<* its claw slightly smaller than that of outer toe; 

 hallux, without claw, as long as inner toe, without claw, but much 

 thicker, its claw much shorter than the digit; basal phalanx of middle 

 toe coherent to outer toe for about two-thirds its length (or a little 

 less), to the inner for about half its length; base of hallux united 

 exteriorly to base of inner toe to beyond point where the latter is 

 united to middle toe.* 



Coloration. — Above brown, the back streaked with black and white, 

 wings and tail barred, more or less, with black or dusky, the pileum 

 duskj'^, at least laterally; narrow superciliary stripe and under parts 

 whitish, the latter brownish laterally, where sometimes barred with 

 dusky. 



Nidiflcation. — Nest globular, with entrance a small hole in one side, 

 composed externally of blades of coarse grasses, rushes, etc., attached 

 to several upright stalks of aquatic weeds or rushes. Eggs profusely 

 sprinkled with brown on a paler (sometimes whitish) ground, some- 

 times so densely that the color appears almost uniform brown. 



Bcmge. — Temperate North America. (Monotypic.) 



"The reverse of other genera except Cistothorus. 

 6 This character also is shared only by Cistothorus. 



