TYRANNID2E THE TYKANT FLYCATCHERS. 



341 



FAMILY TYRANNIDJE. THE TYKANT FLYCATCHEKS. 



f'HAEACTERS. "Primaries ten. Bill in typical forms broad, triangular, much de- 

 pressed, abruptly decurved and notched at tip, with long bristles along gape. Tarsi with 

 scutelh extending around the outer face of tarsus from the front to back; sometimes 

 divided on the outer side. Bill with ciilmcn nearly as long as the head, or shorter; 

 straight to near the tip, then suddenly bent down into a conspicuous hook, with a notch 

 behind it; tip of lower jaw also notched. Commissure straight to near the notch ; gonys 

 slightly convex. Nostrils oval and rounded, in the anterior extremity of the nasal groove, 

 and more or less concealed by long bristles which extend from the posterior angle of the 

 jaws along the base of the bill, becoming smaller, but reaching nearly to the median line 

 of the forehead. These bristles with lateral branches at the base. Similar bristles are 

 mixed in the loral feathers and margin the chin. Tarsi short, generally less than middle 

 toe, completely enveloped by a series of large scales, which meet near the posterior edge 

 of the inner side, and are separated either by naked skin or by a row of small scales. 

 Sometimes a second series of rather large plates is seen on the posterior face of the 

 tarsus; these, however, usually on the upper extremity only. Basal joint of middle toe 

 united almost throughout to that of the outer toe, but more than half free on the inner 

 side ; outer lateral toe rather the longer. Wings and tail variable ; first quill always 

 more than three fourths the second. The outer primaries sometimes attenuated near 

 the tip. 



"The primary characters given above will serve to distinguish 

 the North American Tyrannidce from their allies ; the essential fea- 

 tures consisting in the peculiarity of the scales of the tarsus and 

 the ten primaries. In the Sylvicolidee there are species as truly 

 "flycatching," and with a depressed bristly bill, but the nine (not 

 ten) primaries, and the restriction of the scales to the anterior 

 face of the tarsus, instead of extending entirely round the outer 

 side, will readily separate them." (Hist. N. Am. B.} 



The following analysis of genera is taken from "History of North 

 American Birds" (Vol. II, pp. 307, 308), those belonging exclusively 

 to the southwestern border of the United States being omitted. 



IYRANNI. Size large: colors generally brilliant; crown with a brighter colored 

 crest, usually concealed; outer primaries abruptly contracted or attenuated near the tip; 

 upper scales of tarsus usually continuing round on the outside and behind. Nest in 

 trees, very bulky, containing much downy material; eggs white or pinkish, with ovate 

 aots of rich brown, of various shades. 



Milvulus. Tail exceedingly forked and lengthened; more than twice as Ions: 

 as the wings. 



Tyrannus. Tail moderate , nearly even or slightly forked; less than the wings. 



