ICTEEIA. 157 



Subfam. IGTERIIN^*. 



ICTEEIA. 



Icteria, Vieillot, Ois. Am. Sept. i. pp. iii, 85 (1807) (type Muscicapa viridis, Gm.) ; Coues, B. Col. 

 Vail. i. p. 316. 



The position of this genus has long been a matter of doubt ; and even now it cannot 

 be said to have found a final resting-place, as much of its internal structure has yet to 

 be examined and compared with that of the birds with which it has been associated. 

 For a long time it was placed with the Vireonidte, of which it was obviously a very 

 abnormal member. Its relationship with the Tanagridse has also been suggested. In 

 placing it here, in the midst of the Mniotiltidae, we follow, in a great measure, Prof. 

 Baird's assignment of it, who dissents from its being placed in the Vireonidse on account 

 of its deeply cleft inner toe, the partially feathered tarsi, the lengthened middle toe, the 

 slightly curved claws, the entire absence of notch or hook in the bill, and the short, 

 rounded, nine-primaried wings. The genus comprises but a single species, divisible 

 into two ill-defined races. This ranges across the southern part of the North- American 

 continent during the summer months, and passes the winter season in Mexico and 

 Guatemala. 



1. Icteria viridis. 



Turdus virens, Linn. Syst. Nat. ed. 10, i. p. 171 '. 



Icteria virens, Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 228^; Lawr. Ann. Lye. N. Y. ix. p. 200 'j Bull. U.S. Nat. 



Mus. no. 4, p. 17 * ; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p. 547 ' ; v. Frantz. Journ. f. 



Om. 1869, p. 294'; Baird, Brew. & Ridgw. N. Am. B. i, p. 307'; Coues, B. Col. Vail. i. 



p. 320'. 

 Musncapa viridis, Gm. Syst. Nat. i. p. 936 ^ 

 Icteria viridis, Bp. P. Z. S. 1837, p. Ill '"; Cab. Journ. f. Orn. 1860, p. 403"; Scl. P. Z. S. 1864, 



p. 173"; Scl. & Salv. P. Z. S. 1870, p. 836"; Duges, La Natur. i. p. 140". 

 Tanagra auricollis, Licht. Preis-Verz. mex. Vog. p. 2" (cf. J. f. Orn. 1863, p. 57). 

 Icteria velasquezi, Bp. P. Z. S. 1837, p. 117 '' ; Scl. P. Z. S. 1856, p. 298 " ; 1859, pp. 363 '^ 375 " ; 



Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1859, p. 12^°; Salv. Ibis, 1866, p. 202"- 



* The three subfamilies into which Dr. Coues (B. Col. Vail. i. p. 203) divides the Mniotiltidse may be 

 briefly characterized as follows : — 



Mniothtin^ {antea, p. 109). Bill conical, slender ; commissure but slightly curved; rictal bristles short or 



absent. 

 IoTi!Kmr.as. Bill compressed, high, very stout ; commissure much curved ; rictal bristles short. 

 SBTOPHAGiKiE. Bill broad, flattened ; commissure slightly curved ; rictal bristles long, reaching far beyond 



the nostril. 



