Mr. R. Ridgway on the Genus Helminthophaga. 167 
western f. During the breeding-season the species of Hel¬ 
minthophaga are distributed as follows :— 
Eastern Province. 
Western 
Province. 
Hudsonian. 
Canadian. 
Alleghanian. 
Carolinian. 
Austroriparian. 
Sonoran. 
Rocky-Mountain . 
Sitkan. 
1. H. pinus . 
2. II. laiorencii . 
& 
? 
3. H. chrysoptera . 
* 
* 
4. H. leucobronchialis . 
5. II. bachmani . 
* 
6. H. ritficapilla . 
V 
* 
* 
n 
7. II. Virginia . 
* 
8. H. lucice .. 
& 
9. II celata . 
p 
* 
*§ 
10. II. peregrina . 
* 
* 
Regarding the characters of this genus little need here be 
said; beyond that it is distinguished from all other Mniotiltidse, 
except Parula and Perissoglossa, by its very acute bill, with 
nearly straight culmen and gonys, and from these two genera 
by the absence of a notch on the superior tominm of the bill, 
and of rictal bristles at its base. The species all nest on or 
near the ground (as is the habit of Geothlypis , Oporornis , and 
Slums) , and lay white eggs, speckled, rather faintly, with 
t It is, of course, understood that I do not here refer to the Mexican 
genera Granatellus , Ergaticus , Cardellina, and Basileuterus , all of which 
have representatives within our south-western border. 
X Specimens of a western race (gutturalis, Ridgway, Hist. N. Am. B. 
ii. p. 191) have been taken in the autumn at various localities in the 
western portions of the United States, including even Southern California; 
it is therefore presumed that they were bred on the mountains to the 
northward or in the interior. 
§ This species occurs in two well-marked geographical races :—the true 
celata, Say, belonging to the Eastern Province, including Florida and 
Illinois, in winter, and the Rocky Mountains and Alaska; the other, 
lutescens, Ridgw., belonging to the Pacific district of the Western Pro¬ 
vince, in summer. 
