BIRDS — COLOPTEEIDAE — TYKANNmAE. 1 G7 



variable ; first quill always more than three-fourths the second. The outer primaries sometimes 

 attenuated near the tip. 



The species of tliis sub-family may, for our present purposes, be divided into Tyranni ami 

 Tyraitnuli. Tlie former are large, generally with bright color, pointed wings, with attenuated 

 primaries and a colored crest iu the middle of the crown. The others are plainer, smaller, 

 without crest ; the primaries not attenuated. 



The following schedule may serve to illustrate the genera of North American Tyrant fly- 

 catchers : 



Tjrranni. 



Size large ; colors generally brilliant ; crown with a brightly colored crest, usually concealed ; 

 outer primaries abruptly contracted or attenuated near the tip ; ujiper scales of tarsus usually 

 continuing round on the outside and behind. 



MiLVULUS. — Tail excessively forked and lengthened ; more than twice as long as 



the wings. 

 Tyrankus. — Tail moderate ; nearly even or forked ; less than the wings. 



Tyrannuli. 



Size small ; colors usually plain ; crown witliout any colored crest concealed by the tips of 

 the feathers ; primaries normal ; scales of the upper part of the tarsus usually continuing 

 only to the middle of the outer face, and a second series opposite to them behind. 



1. Tail lengthened ; about equal to the wings, which reach scarcely to its middle. 



Myiarchus. — Tarsus equal t5 the middle toe, which is decidedly longer than the 



hinder one. Tail even or rounded. 

 Sayornis. — Tarsus rather longer than the middle toe, which is scarcely longer than 



the hind toe. Tail slightly forked. 



2. Tail decidedly shorter than the wings. 



CoNTOPUS. — Tarsus shorter than the middle toe ; hind toe much longer than the 

 lateral. Tail considerably forked. Wings long, pointed ; much longer than 

 the tail, reaching beyond the middle of the latter ; first quill about equal 

 to the fourth. 



Empidonax. — Tarsus considerably longer than the middle toe ; nearly as long as 

 the head ; hind toe much longer than lateral. Tail nearly even or rounded ; 

 but little shorter than the wings ; first primary much shorter than the fourth. 



Pyrocepiiauts. — Tarsus but little longer than the middle toe; hind toe not longer 

 than the lateral. Tail broad, even ; first quill shorter than the .fifth. 



MILYULUS, Swain son. 



Jililrulus, SwAiKsoN, Zool. Jour. Ill, 1827, 165. 



Despotes, Reichekbach, Avium Syst. Naturae, 1850, (in part.) 



Sp. Ch. — Bill shorter than the head, and nearly equal to the tarsus. Tail nearly twice as long as the wing, e.tcessively 

 forked ; the middle' feathers scarcely half the lateral First primary abruptly attenuated at the end, where it is very narrow 

 and linear. Head with a concealed crest of red. 



This group is distinguished from Tyrannus by the very long tail, but the two species assigned 

 to North America, although agreeing in'"most respects, difi"er in others. Thus, in M. forficatus 



