CLAMATORES: 



SUBORDER U Jjilltiil ± V/±tjUkji Non-melodious Passeres. 



Family TYRANNID^ : American Flycatchers. 



MILVULUS FORFICATUS, (Gm.) Sw. 

 Swallow-tailed Flj eatclier ; Scissor-tail. 



Muscicapa forficafa, Gm., Syst. Nut. i, 1788, 931 (Moucherolle a qiiene fourchue cle Mexi- 

 que,'BuFF., P. E.' 677). — Vieill., Ois. Am. Sept. i, 1807,71. — Steph., Shaw's 

 Gen. Zool. x, 413, pi. 3.— Bp., Am. Oru. i, 1825, 15, pi. 2, f. 1 ; Syu. 1828,275.— 

 NuTT., Man. i, 1832, 275.— Aud., Orn. Biog. iv, 1838, 426, pi. 359, f. 3. 



Tyrannus forficatiis, Temm., Tabl. Meth. 24.— Say, Long's Exp. ii, 1823, 224.— NuTT., 

 Man. i, 2d ed. 1840, 309. 



MiJvulus forficatHs, Sw., Classif. B. ii, 225.— Rich., List, 1837.— Bp., List, 1838. 25.— AcD., 

 Syu. 1839, 38.— Aud., B. Am. i, 1840, 197, pi. 53.— Bp., Consp. i, 1850, 192; Not. 

 Delat. 87.— WooDH., Sitgr. Rep. 1853, 73 (Texas and Indian Territory). — Scu., 

 P. Z. S. 1857, 204 (Xalapa).— Bd., B. N. A. 185», 169.— Cab., Mus. Heiu. ii, 1859, 

 79.— ScL., Ibis, 1859, 439 ; Cat. 1862, 237.— Scl. «& Salv., Ibis, 18.59, 121 (Gua- 

 . temala).— Taylok, Ibis, 1860, 114 (Honduras).— Cab., J. f. O. ix, 1861, 252 

 (Costa Rica). — Lvwii., Ann. Lye. ix, 1868, 116. — Sumicii., Mem. Bost. Sue. i, 

 1869, 556 (Vera Cruz).— Gray, Hand-list, i, 1869, 365, No. 5563.— Sxow, B. 

 Kaus. 1873 3 (Fort Riley, Kaus.). — Abbott, Am. Nat. vii, 1872, 367 (accidental 

 at Trenton, N. J.).— Coues, Key, 1872, 1()9, fig. 110^— B. B. & R., N. A. B. 

 ii, 1874, 311, pi. 43, f. 1. 



Tyrannus mexicanits, Steph., Shaw's Gen. Zool. xiii, pt. ii, 1826, 135, 



Muscicapa spcctahilis, Licht-, " Mus. Berol." 



Hal). — Lower Mississippi Valley, Texas, and southward into South America. 



This ])eculiaiiy elegant species, not inaptly called "bird of j)aradise" 

 by the Texans, is merely a straggler to tbe Missouri water-sbed. The 

 single instance I know of its occurrence in tbis region, is tbat cited by 

 Prof. Snow, on Prof. Baird's autbority. It is abundant in tbis country 

 only in some parts of Texas ; Dr. Woodbouse, however, gives it as not 

 uncommon in the Indian Territory. Like its equally graceful relative, 

 the Fork-tailed Flycatcher, M. tyranmis, it has been known to wander 

 even to New Jersey, where a specimen was lately captured near Tren- 

 ton. Some years ago. Dr. Prentiss and I stated that a MUcuIks, prob- 

 iibly forficatits, had been seen at Washiugton, D. C, by Mr. C. Drexler. 

 I only mention this to throw discredit upon it ; having since found rea- 

 son to believe tbat we were imposed upon by the collector. 



The eggs of this Flycatcher are not with certainty distingnishable 

 from those of a Kingbird ; they are, however, rather smaller, and per- 

 haps on an average a little more nearly globular. Size, scarcely 0.00 

 by 0.70. 



TYEANNUS CAROLINENSIS, (Gm.) Temm. 



Kingbird; Bee-iiias'tin, 



Laniits iiirannus, Linn., Syst. Nat. i, 1766, 136 (Cate.suy, i, 55, pi. 55; Buiss., ii, 391; 



■p. E. 537).— Gm., Syst. Nat. i, 17f?8, 302.— Lath., Ind. ()rn. i. 1790, 81. 

 Lanius ti/rainiiis var. carol hie imis et liidurichinHS, G.M., i, 1788, :{02.— Lath., Ind. Urn. i, 



1790, 82 (P. E. (•)7(i). 

 Ti/ranniis carolhicnsin, Tkmm., Tabl. Meth. 24.— Cab., Mus. llciii. ii, 1859, 70.— Bn.. B. 



N. A. 18.-)8, 171.— Coop. «X: Sick., N. II. Wash. T.r. I'^liO. 1(17.— IIayd., Rep. 



Id62, 157.— LoiM), Pr. Roy. Arty. Inst. 1864, 113 (^Britisli Cohuubia).— Lawk., 



