°rderll. PASSERES. 
Tribe III. Dentirostres. 
Family I. Luscinidje. 
^ he sixth Subfamily, 
MNIOTILTINiE, or Bush-Creepers, 
ha\e the Bill more or less acutely conical, with the culmen sloping, and the sides compressed to the tip, 
"hich is slightly emarginated ; the gonys long, and advancing upwards ; the Nostrils basal, with the 
°Pening more or less large, and exposed : the Wings rather long, and generally pointed : the Tail 
Moderate : the Tarsi as long as, or longer than, the middle toe, covered in front with broad scales : the 
^ 0es l° n g an d slender, with the outer toe usually longer than the inner, and united at its base. 
Mniotilta Vieill .* 
Bill rather short, conical, and straight, with the culmen gradually curved or sloping, and the sides 
^dually compressed to the tip, which is slightly emarginated ; the lateral margins indexed ; the gonys 
^ 0ll g, and advancing upwards, and the gape furnished with a few short weak bristles ; the nostrils basal, 
aTl d placed in a short broad groove, with the opening rather large, and partly closed by a membrane. 
ln 9 s long and pointed, with the first quill nearly as long as, or equal with, the second and third, which 
are equal and longest. Tail moderate and broad, with the end of each feather sometimes pointed. 
ar ' n father longer than the middle toe, slender, and covered in front with broad scales, the divisions of 
Av hich are sometimes scarcely visible. Toes long and slender ; the outer toe longer than the inner, and 
Uni ted at its base ; the hind toe long, stronger than the others, and armed with a rather strong curved 
claw. 
Th 
of a 16 S P ec * es °f this division are found, in consequence of their migratory habits, in various parts of the vast continent 
Qrvrl J. 11 1 J X 1 An«.AA*n11w vtnnw 1 U TTA 1 W 
°r lal. 
ei ’ica, and its adjacent islands. They are usually observed on trees or low thickets, especially those near rivers 
kin 1 aCtive1 - y en » a g e d in examining the bark of the trunk and branches, and the leaves of trees, for spiders and other 
tli .; * nse °t s ’ which constitute their food, both in the perfect and imperfect states. As soon as they have finished 
5^1 examination of one bush or tree, they pass by a short active flight to another, which undergoes the same scrutiny ; 
f r l llUG 8 pecies are even seen flying about the upper branches of the trees, feeding on the small dipterous insects that 
gro 6nt . SUCl1 localities. At other times these birds feed on small berries. The nest is generally formed near the 
in ’ oi a bush, or in the fork of a low tree, of grass very compactly woven together, and lined with hair and down, 
the female lay, five eggs. 
Vr,( X''' 11 " 1 established this genus in 18lfi {Analyse, &c. p. IS I, with which Orygbssus of Mr. Swainson (1827) is synonymous. It 
C °o<IUa] Rhiman Phus of Rafinesque (1819), with which Ficedula Cuv. (1799-1800) and Sylvicola of Mr. Swainson (1827) are 
(l8igx 5 Chlr >ru of M. Boie (1826), with which Parula of the Prince of Canino (1888) is synonymous ; Helmttheros of Rafinesque 
^githt Wlth wh ich Vermivora of Mr. Swainson (1827) and Helinaia of Mr. Audubon (1839) are coequal. It probably embraces 
Mi 0 of Vieillot (18 16). 
