260 AVES. 



Others, whose beak is also broad and depressed, are remarkable 

 for their long legs and short tail. Two or three only are known, all 

 from America; they feed on Ants, which caused them to be united 

 to the little tribe of Thrushes called Ant-catchers, Myotherje of Illi- 

 ger.(l) 



MUSCICAPA, CuV. 



The Flycatchers, properly so called, have shorter mustachios 

 and a narrower beak than the Muscipetx; it is still, however, de- 

 pressed with an acute ridge above, straight edges, and a slightly 

 hooked point. 



Two species of this subgenus are found in France during the 

 summer, and lead a melancholy life on high trees. The most 

 common is, 



31. grisola, Gm. Enl. 565, 1. (The Grey Fly-catcher.) Grey- 

 above, whitish underneath, with a few greyish spots on the 

 breast. In some countries it is kept in houses to destroy flies. 

 The other, 



M. albicollis, Tem.; Gobe-mouche a collier, Enl. 563, 2 and 3; 

 and better, Hist, des Ois. torn. IV in 4to, pi. 25, f. 2, the male 

 in Avedding plumage; Naum. 65, in its different states. (The 

 Collared Flycatcher.) Very remarkable for the changes of the 

 male's plumage. Similar in winter to the female; that is, grey, 

 with a white band on the wing. In the nuptial season it be- 

 comes agreeably variegated, with pure black and white; calotte, 

 back, wings and tail, black; the forehead, collar, and all the 

 upper part of the body, a large spot on the wing, a smaller one 

 in front, and the external edge of the tail, white. It builds on 

 the trunks of trees. (2) 



A species subject to the same changes has lately been disco- 

 been placed among' the Todies, and although Pallas has set us the example of 

 doing so, the notch in the beak, and the separation of the external toe forbid it. 

 Add, Plat, olivaceus, T. Col. XII, 1, ov sulfur escens, Spix, XII. Plat, cancromus. 

 Id. lb. 2. 



(1) Here come Turdus auritus, Gm., Enl. 822, and Vieill. Gal. 127, the same as 

 Pipra leucotis, but which is neither a Thrush nor a Pipra. P/pra naevia, Enl. 823, 

 f. 2. It is upon this distinction that Vieill. has founded his genus Conopophaga, 

 Galer. 127. 



(2) The ancients knew this bird by the names of Sycalis and Ficedula, in its ordi- 

 nary plumage, and by that of Melancorhynclios and Mrkapilla, in its wedding livery; 

 but as the name of Bec-figue [Becca-fico), is given in the south, and in Italy, to 

 various species of Fauvet and Anthus, naturalists have applied the united attributes 

 of these birds to a certain state of this Flycatcher, and formed the imaginary spe- 

 cies presented by this same name of Bec-figue in IJuffon, and in those who have 



