TYRANNID^—TYRANNIN.^: TYRANT FLYCATCHERS. 



513 



Similar; primary not abruptly emarginate ; tail undeveloped; no crown-spot, and little or no 

 red. Central America, Mexico, and in the U. S., the Lower Mississippi valley, and Texas; 

 usually N. to Indian Territory and Kansas, even Mis- 

 souri ; E. to Louisiana ; accidental in Illinois, Florida, 

 Virginia, New Jersey, New England, and Manitoba, 

 at Hudson's Bay, and in the Mackenzie River valley ! 

 A most elegant, graceful, and showy bird, abundant 

 in Texas, conspicuous by the display it makes in open- 

 ing and closing the tail, like scissor-blades ; very ac- 

 tive, dashing and noisy, like a Kingbird, — all the 

 large Flycatchers sharing this same impetuous, irrita- 

 ble disposition. It makes a very good sort of a " Bird- 

 of- Paradise " to the average apprehension of a Texan. 

 Breeds throughout its regular U. S. range. Nesting 

 like the Kingbird's ; eggs 4-6, usually 5, white, boldly 

 blotched with reddish and darker browns on the sur- 

 face, and lilac shell-spots ; size averaging 0,90 X 0.66, 

 l>ut length ranging from 0.80 to 0.95; they are mostly 

 laid in May, but may be taken from April to July. 

 TYRAN'NUS. (Lat. tyrannus, a tyrant.) King 

 Flycatchers. Tail moderate in size and shape, 

 rather shorter than wing, even or little rounded, emar- 

 ginate or lightly forked. Wings long, pointed by 2d- 

 3d quills, 1st and 4th little if any shorter, 5th and rest 

 rapidly graduated. Several outer primaries abruptly 

 emargiuate or sinuate-narrowed on inner webs toward 

 end. Bill stout, flattish, fully bristled, notched, and 

 hooked (fig. 342). Feet small and weak ; tarsus with 

 scales obviously lapping around. Size large ; length 

 8.00 or more; wing over 4.00. Sexes alike; 9 sharing the flaming crown-patch. Young 

 lacking crown-spot and attenuation of primaries. Nest bulky, on a bough, compactly woven 

 and felted. Eggs white, boldly marked with oval or tear-shaped spots of reddish -brown, etc. 

 Contains numerous species, 5 of N. Am., which have been divided into several named sub- 

 genera, but are closely interrelated through various exotic species. They are the Kingbirds 

 proper. 



Analysis of Species. 



No olive nor decided yellow ; blackish and whitish. 



Only two primaries obviously emarginate. Tail about even, conspicuously white-tipped. Bill small, under 1.00. 



{Tyrannus) tyrannus 



Five or six primaries emarginate. Tail emarginate, merely lighter at end. Bill big, 1.00 long. (Melittarchus) 



dominicensis 

 Olivaceous, with pure yellow on belly, ashy on head. Bill moderate. {Laphycles.) 

 Tail blackish, merely emarginate ; wings dark brown. 



Several outer primaries gradually attenuate for a long distance. Outer web of outer tail-feather white 



verliealis 

 Several outer primaries abruptly emarginate for a short distance. Outer web of outer tail-feather merely 



whitish-edged voci/erans 



Tail dark brown, like wings, obviously forked. 



Several outer primaries abruptly emarginate for a short distance mdanchoUcus couchi 



FiQ. 345. — Swallow-tailed Flycatcher. 

 (Sheppard del. Nichols sc.) 



T. tyran'nus. (Fig. 346.) Kingbird. Bee-biro. Bee-martin. Adult $ 9 : No 

 olive nor decided yellow. Only two outer primaries obviously emarginate (fig. 343, b). Tail 

 nearly even — if anything a little rounded. Blackish-ash, still darker or quite black on head, 



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