9. Bill somewhat parine. Tail equal to the wing, almost even.
Cardellineæ. Colors mainly red, or red, ashy, and white.
Bill weak, almost cylindrical; wings rounded, the quills broad and soft at ends. Tail slightly rounded, the feathers soft. Colors mainly red. … Ergaticus.
Bill stout, the culmen and gonys very convex; wings pointed, the quills emarginated and hard at ends. Tail even, the feathers hard. Color ashy above; rump and beneath white. Head red and black. … Cardellina.
Of the above, Granatellus, Myioborus, Ergaticus, and Cardellina belong to Central and South America, Teretristis to Cuba.
Subfamily SYLVICOLINÆ.
Section MNIOTILTEÆ.
Char. Bill slightly notched some distance from the tip. Rictal bristles minute. Hind toe considerably developed, longer than the lateral toe; its claw decidedly longer than its digit. First quill nearly or quite as long as the second. Wings long, pointed; much longer than the tail, which is nearly even. Tail-feathers with white spots. Bill much compressed for terminal half, the commissure and lateral outlines decidedly concave; the culmen and gonys convex.
Mniotilta, Vieillot, Analyse, 1816, 45. (Type, Motacilla varia, L.)