80 LAND-BIRDS AND GAME-BIRDS 
(A common migrant, in spring and autumn, along the coast 
of New England.) 
(a). About 63 inches long. Above, pure dark brown 
(‘ olive-shaded”? ), slightly streaked. Under-parts and super- 
ciliary line, light buffy-brown. Breast and sides dusky-streaked. 
Tail dark; outer tail-feathers partly white. 
(0). The Titlarks breed chiefly in Arctic countries, and 
never in New England. 
(c). They pass through Massachusetts in spring and autumn, 
when traveling to and from their summer-homes, and are then 
common on the sea-shore, “in the Fresh Pond marshes of 
Cambridge,” and sometimes in old fields. They usually collect 
in loose flocks, and feed on seeds and insects, which they pick 
up on the ground, where they can run with ease and rapidity. 
They have a singular habit of jerking their tails, which is véry 
noticeable. When disturbed, they generally fly away to quite 
a distance and high in the air, resuming their labors, if they 
may be so called, when they alight. They retire in summer to 
breed in Labrador and other cold countries, where they are said 
to sing. 
(d). When with us their only note is a feeble one, a sitnple 
chirp, which is often repeated. 
§9. The Sylvicolide, or American warblers, form a 
group, which may perhaps be best defined negatively. By the 
omission, however, of the Icterine (or chats), who probably 
should be ranked as a family intermediate between the warblers 
and tanagers, their characteristics may be considered the follow- 
ing. Length, 4-63 inches; bill twice as long as high; commis- 
sure entirely straight or slightly curved, unless interrupted by a 
terminal notch ; nostrils exposed ; tarsus scutellate; ‘‘ hind toe 
shorter than the middle ;” primaries nine (fig. 4). It is doubt- 
ful how many subfamilies there should be, but the following 
well-defined groups exist. 
Seiurine, or lark-warblers (1). Bill notched, scarcely bris- 
tled. Birds streaked beneath. Tail not marked or forked. 
Geothlypinee, or thicket-warblers (II, III). Bill notched, 
