Australian Birds in the Collection of the Linnean Society. 241. 
tially in the air this member becomes of much importance, as 
contributing more or less to their support or government in their 
aérial movements. In the true Muscicapa its general character 
is that of being slightly forked: in the present group it is 
rounded at the aper; but what it loses in that forked structure, 
which is generally supposed to be most conducive to the pur- 
poses of flight, it gains in being lengthened and capable of being 
spread out like a fan, so as to give the bird a greater power in 
the air. The group is also distinguished by the great length 
-and number of the rictal bristles, which exceed the bill itself in 
length. ‘This also is an important character among the birds 
that feed on insects in the air, as serving to encompass and 
secure their prey : and the greater or less developement of the 
character becomes a material point of distinction among them. 
The wings, although very similar in structure to those of Musci- 
capa, are less rounded, and, being in a slight degree acumi- 
nated, possess perhaps somewhat superior powers of flight. We 
have not hitherto noticed any birds possessing the characters of 
the group, except the New Holland species. - 
1. FraBELLIFERA. Rhip. fusco-nigra; maculà superciliari post- 
ocularique, gulá, tectricum apicibus, rectricumque rhachibus 
et apicibus albidis ; abdomine ferruginescente. 
Muscicapa flabellifera. Gmel. i. 943. no. 67. 
Fan-tailed Flycatcher. Lath. Gen. Hist. vi. p. 184. no. 44. pl.99. 
The figure that Dr. Latham gives of this species has much 
more white on the lateral tail-feathers than our bird. But that 
gentleman affirms that the species is subject to much variation. 
Mr. Caley thus observes on the manners of this bird.  ** Fan- 
tail.—There is something singular in the habits of this bird. It 
frequents the small trees and bushes, from whence it suddenly 
darts at its prey, spreading out its tail like a fan, and to appear- 
ance 
