512 SYSTEMA TIC SVXOPSIS. —PA SSERES— CLAM A TORES. 



To the genera of Tyrannid(C long known to be North American have been added four 

 from Mexico — the immense-billed Pitangus ; the short-billed Myiozetetes with tlaniing 

 crown-spot and yellow under parts ; the streaky, yellow-bellied, ruft)us-tailed Myiodynastes ; 

 and the curious little " beardless" Ornithion ; while Mitreplumes has been merged in Empi- 

 donax. The 11 genera may be readily discriminated by the following characters : 



Analysis of Genera. 



Bill flattish, fully bristled and hooked as usual iu Ti/rannidw. 



One or more outer primaries attenuate at end. A flame or yellow spot on crown. 



Tail deeply forficate, much longer than wings Milvulus 



Tail simple, not longer than wings Tyrannus 



Outer primaries not attenuate. A yellow orange crown-spot. Belly yellow. 



Wings and tail extensively rufous ; uo streaks except on head . . . . ' Pitangus 



Wings and tail without any rufous ; no streaks except on head Myiozetetes 



Tail but not wings extensively rufous. Streaked above and below Myiodynastes 



Outer primaries not attenuate. Tail moderate. No yellow spot on crown. 



Tail chestnut and dusky, iu lengthwise pattern. Belly yellow ; throat ashy Myiarchus 



Tail without chestnut. 



Tail about equal to or little shorter than wing, slightly or not forked. Bill narrow. Tarsus not shorter 

 or rather longer than middle toe and claw. Coloration black and white, cinnamon-brown, or oli- 

 vaceous Sayornis 



Tail decidedly shorter than wing, a little forked. Bill broad and flat. Tarsus shorter or not than mid- 

 dle toe and claw. Olivaceous ; length 6.25 or more Contnpvs 



Tail a little shorter than wing, about even. Bi'l flat. Tarsus not sliorter or rath^^r longer thm middle 

 toe and claw. Coloration olivaceous and yellowish, but no red, buff or pure brown. Length G.25 or 



less — usually under G 00 Empidonax 



Tail and tarsus as in Empidonax. Bill narrow. Hiud not longer than lateral toe. Sexes unlike. 



(f full-crested, vermilion and pure brown Pyrocephalus 



Bill compressed, quite parine in appearance, unbristled, unnotclied. General color ashy, with yellow lining of wings. 

 Very small : length under 5.00 Onnthion 



MIL'VULUS. (Lat. viilcidi(s, diminutive of mihus, a kite.) Swallow-tailkd Fly- 

 catchers. Tail in adult deeply forficate. about twice as long as wing. Outer primary or 

 primaries abruptly attenuate, and (»ther characters as in Ti/rannus j)roper (beyond). A yellow 



or flaming crown -spot. 



Analysis o.f Species. 



Three or four primaries emarginate. Crown-spot yellow, in black cap ... tyrannus 



One primary emarginate. Crown-spot flaming, in ashy cap . • forficatus 



M. tyrao'nus. (Lat. tyrannus, a tyrant.) Fork-tailed Flycatcher. Adult ^9: 

 Outer 3 or 4 primaries emarginate. Crown-patch yellow. Above clear ash; below, white 

 including lining of wings; top and sides of head black; tail black, the outer feather white on 

 outer web for about half its length ; wings dusky, unmarked. 9 duller. Young similar, but 

 primaries not emarginate, nor tail lengthened; no crown-spot; wing- and tail-coverts edged 

 with brown. Wing 4.50; tail up to a foot long, forked 6-S inches. A beautiful bird of Central 

 and most of S. Am., accidental in the U. S. in four recorded instances (Mississippi, Kentucky, 

 New Jersey, and southern California). 



M, forfica'tus. (Lat. /o>-^crt<(fs, forked like /o)/ex, a pair of scissors. Fig. 345.) Swal- 

 low-tailed Flycatcher. Scissor-tail. Texan Bird-of-Paradise. Adult ,$ 9: 

 First primary alone emarginate (fig. 343 «). Crown-jiatch orange or scarlet. General cidor 

 hoary-ash, paler or white below; sides at insertion of wings and lining of these, scarlet or 

 bloody-red ; other parts of body variously tinged with the same, f)r a paler salmon-red or pink. 

 Wings blackish, with whitish edgings. Tail black, but several of the long feathers extensively 

 white or rosy; these are narrow and linear, sometimes widening somewhat in spoon-shape. 

 Wing 4.50-5.00; extent of wings 14.50-15.50; tail up to a foot long, usually 8.00-10.00 inches, 

 forked 5.00-6.00. 9 averaging smaller than ^, with tail commonly less developed. Young: 



