BIRDS OP NORTH AND MIDDLE AMERICA. 7l5 



acrotarsial scutella distinct, the outer side with (M. tyrannus) or 

 ■vvithout {M. forficata) a separate series of smaller scutella along 

 the upper posterior margin; basal i)halanx of middle toe united to 

 outer toe for a little to decidedly more than half its length, to inner toe 

 for about half its length; outer toe, without claw, reaching to about 

 middle of sul)terminal })halanx of middle toe, the inner toe decidedly 

 shorter; hallux shorter than inner toe, its claw shorter than the 

 digit; all the claws moderate in size and curvature, sharp. 



Coloration. — (a) Pale gray above, the dorsal region tinged mth 

 red; wangs dusky \\4th pale grayish edgings; tail with black prevail- 

 ing on eight middle rectrices, the two outer pairs pale pink or salmon 

 color extensively tipped with black; under parts very pale gray, pass- 

 ing into white on throat and pale orange-red or salmon color on 

 flanks, under tail-coverts, etc.; a large concealed patch of orange-red 

 on each side of breast and a small concealed spot of same in center 

 of crown {M. forficata). (h) Pileum and sides of head black, the 

 crown with a large concealed patch of bright yellow; back and 

 scapulars light bluish gray; wings dusky with light gray edgings; 

 tail black, the lateral rectrices edged basally with white; under 

 parts entirely white (M. tyrannus). 



NkUficotion. — Nest open above, composed of various materials 

 (according to locality), placed in a small tree. Eggs white or pale 

 cream color, boldly spotted with rich reddish brown, lavender, etc. 



Range. — Southwestern United States (east of Rocky Mountains) 

 to Argentina. (Two species.) 



KEY TO THE SPECIES OF MUSCIVORA. 



a. Outermost rectrix little, if any, longer than the next, the three outer rectrices exten- 

 sively white; tenth primary, only, attenuated at tip; pileum and hindneck pale 

 gray, the former with a small orange-red crown-spot; an axillary patch of orange- 

 red. (Musdvora.) (Southwestern United States to Panama.) 



Muscivora forficata (p. 715) 

 aa. Outermost rectrix much longer than the next, all the rectrices black (the outer- 

 most edged with white); eighth, ninth, and tenth primaries attenuated at tip; 

 pileum and hindneck black, the former with a large crown-patch of lemon- 

 yellow; axillary region wholly white. (Milvidus.) (Mexico to Argentina, 

 Paraguay, etc.) .Muscivora tyrannus (p. 718) 



MUSCIVORA FORFICATA (Gmelin). 

 SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER. 



Adult male. — Pileum and hindneck clear pale gray (no. 8 to no. 10), 

 the center of crown with a small concealed patch of orange-red, under- 

 laid posteriorly and laterally by white; back and scapulars light gray, 

 usually more or less strongly suffused with pinkish vinaceous or ocher- 

 yellowish (more commonly the former), the scapulars and lower back 

 sometimes almost uniforml}^ the former color; rump brownish gray, 



