Wing rather long, much rounded, with the third and fourth quills
longest, sixth longer than second, first and tenth about equal; tail
much rounded, the lateral feathers being half an inch shorter than the
middle. Male with a band of black across the forehead, including the
loral space and eyes, and terminating on the ear-coverts; upper part
of head light greyish-blue, tinged behind with green; the rest of the
upper parts dull yellowish-green; quills and tail-feathers wood-brown
on the inner webs, the edge of the wing and margin of the outer
primary yellow; all the lower parts rich yellow, excepting the sides,
which are shaded into dull greenish-yellow.
_Male_, 5-1/4, wing, 2-5/12.
North California.
Delafield's Yellow-throat, Sylvia Delafieldii, Aud. Orn. Biog.
v. v. p. 307.
GENUS IV. HELINAIA, Aud. SWAMP-WARBLERS.
Bill rather long, being nearly of the same length as the head,
straight, or slightly decurved, tapering to a very acute point, much
compressed; the upper mandible with the ridge distinct, the sides
declinate and flat at the base, the edges somewhat inflected beyond
the middle, the notch obsolete; lower mandible with the dorsal line
straight, the edges involute, the tip extremely acute. Nostrils
oblong; exposed. Feet of moderate length; tarsus about equal to the
middle toe and claw, slender, much compressed, with the upper scutella
blended; toes slender; claws rather long, moderately arched, slender,
much compressed, laterally grooved, extremely acute, plumage soft and
blended. Bristles obsolete. Wings rather long, somewhat pointed, the
outer three nearly equal, the second longest. Tail of moderate length,
nearly even.--Name from [Greek: Helos], a swamp, and [Greek: Naiô], to
inhabit.