PASSERINE. 



18] 



The Tyrants (Tyrannus, Cuv.) — 

 Have a long, straight, and very stout bill; the ridge of the upper mandible straight and blunt; its 

 point abruptly hooked. They are American birds, of the size of our Shrikes and equally spirited, 

 which defend their young even against Eagles, and drive all Birds of prey from the vicinity of their 

 nest. The largest species prey on smaller birds, and do not always disdain those they find dead. 

 [They have even been observed to plunge after fish in the manner of a Kingfisher; and have been 

 sometimes noticed to throw up their food and catch it in the throat, as in the Toucans, Ilornbills, &c. 



The species are extremely numerous, and have been further subdivided by different systematists. Thus, several 

 with extremely furcate tails compose the Mi/ru/us, Swains., and the smaller and weaker species the Tyrannula of 

 the same nomenclator : the latter grade into the Kinglets. Others constitute the Platyrynchus, VieiLlot, &c. The 

 majority have yellow or red coronal feathers, somewhat as in the Kinglets.] 



The Moucherolles (Muscipeta, Cuv.) — 



Have a long beak, very much depressed, and twice as broad as high, even at the base ; the ridge of the 

 upper mandible very obtuse, but sometimes however the reverse ; the edges slightly curved, the points 

 and emargination feeble, and long vibrissae at the gape. 



Their weakness disables them from preying on aught but insects. All of them are foreign ; and 

 many are ornamented with long tail-feathers or with fine crests, or at least have vivid colours on the 

 plumage. 



[Several different natural groups are here brought together : the term is now generally restricted to some beau- 

 tiful birds of the eastern hemisphere, the males of which have crimson and black plumage, and long even tails, the 

 females being yellow where the male is red ; their colours are distributed as in the Redstarts, and there are other 

 birds of similar form and colouring, but stouter and larger, which compose the Ph<enicornis, Gould.] 



Some species approximating the Moucherolles [or rather the Tyrants], — 



The Flatbills (Platyrynchus, Vieillot), — 



Are remarkable for having the bill still broader and more depressed. 



[They have been confused by many writers with the Todies, a widely separated genus, that does not even possess 

 the distinctive characters of the Passerin<c. They have also been ranged under many named minor subdivisions.] 



Others, which have also the beak broad and depressed, are distinguished by their longer legs and 



short tail. They compose the genus 



Conopophaga, Vieillot, — 



Of which but two or three species are known, all from America, that subsist on Ants, which has caused 

 them to be ranged with the small tribe of Thrushes termed Antcatchers. 



The Restricted Flycatchers (Muscicapa, Cuv.) — 



Have shorter bristles at the gape, and the bill more slender than in the Moucherolles. It is still, 

 however, depressed, with an acute ridge above, a straight edge, and the point a little curved downward. 

 [They are closely related by affinity to the Chats and Redstarts, as are also the Moucherolles, and have 

 similar mottled nestling plumage, a character that does not occur in the great Tyrant group. 



Four species inhabit Kurnpe, migrating southward in winter.] 



The Grey Flycatcher (.1/. gritola, Gm.) — Grey above, whitish underneath, with some greyish streaks on the 

 breast. [It is very common throughout Britain, seldom arriving before May: one of the least musical of our 

 Dative Uinls. Its legs are shorter than in the following, and general character different: hence, with some Others 

 from Africa, it composes the Unln/i.s of Itoir.J 



The Collared Flycatcher (M. a/hirollis, Tcm.), is very remarkable for the changes of plumage [or rather of 

 colouring only; which the male undergoes seasonally. Resembling the other se\ mn inter, that il to sa\ , grey [on 

 the upper part si with a white patch on the wing, it attains towards the nuptial season an agreeable distribution of 

 pure black and white, tin- head, back, wings and tail, being Of the former colour, ami the forehead, a collar round 

 the Deck, B gnat patch on each w ing, ■ smaller one in trout of it, and the outer edge of the tail, white. It ncsllcs 

 in the trunks of trees. 



Another apeciei Subject to the same changes has more recently been discovered, in which the neck of the male 

 is black like the back in the nuptial season, and which wants the small white spot on the edge of the wing. It is 



the Pied Flycatcher (if, hutuota, Tern.), which is (bund further northward than the other. [This specie* is 



remarkable for its local distribution in the British islands, l.emg\er\ common near the lakes of the DOrthof 



England, and of rare occ u rrence elsewhere, it is doubtful whether the other ever occurs here. The] are said to 



differ in their notes, and both lay blue eggs, whereat the Grey Flycatcher lays whitish eggs Spotted with brown. 



The two pied species are also compai ati\ el\ musical. J 



