274 INSECTIVOROUS BIRDS. 



FORK-TAILED FLYCATCHER. 



(Miiscicajia savana, Bonap. Am. Orn. i. p. 1. pi. 1. fig. 1. M. tyran- 

 nus, Lin. Philad. Museuirij No. 6620.) 



Sp. Charact. — Cinereous; head black; a fulvous spot on the 

 crown ; beneath white; tail 10 inches long, extremely forked and 

 black. 



This splendid bird is a resident in the tropical wilds 

 of Guiana, where it is said to be common, and was found 

 also by Commerson near the banks of La Plata and in 

 the woods of Monte Video. It is only a straggler in the 

 United States, from one of which accidental visitors, 

 near Bridgetown in New Jersey, in the first week in 

 December, was made the splendid engraving which ac- 

 companies the account of this bird in Prince Bonaparte's 

 Ornithology. 



In its habits it resembles the other native species of 

 the genus, is a solitary bird, remaining for a long time 

 perched on the limb of a tree, from whence it occasion- 

 ally darts after passing insects, or flying downwards, it 

 alights on the tufted herbage arising above the partially 

 drowned savannas, beyond whose limits this sedentary 

 species but seldom strays. While seated, his long train is 

 in motion like that of the Wagtail. Besides insects, like 

 our King-bird, he feeds on berries, and this individual 

 had his stomach distended with those of the Poke plant.* 

 South America affords two other species resembling the 

 present, and equally remarkable for the singular length 

 and forking of the tail-feathers. 



The length of the Fork-tailed Flycatcher is 14 inches, its tail 

 alone measuring nearly 10. The alar extent is also 14 inches. The 

 upper part of the head and cheeks is deep black. The feathers of 



* Paptolacea deeandra. L. 



