430 MANUAL OF THILIPPINE BIRDS. 



Family MUSCICAPID^. 



Edges of mandibles smooth with a small notch near the tip of the 

 upper one ; bill moderately broad and flat ; nostrils protected by a number 

 of long frontal bristles; frontal feathers more or less antrorse (soft and 

 pile-like in some genera), but not entirely concealing the nostrils; rictal 

 bristles long, numerous, and stiff; wings and tail long, the latter ex- 

 tremely long in some species: first primary, rarely minute, usually from 

 one-half to two-thirds as long as wing ; tarsus and feet slender and weak, 

 the former rather short. This^ family contains a great number of closely 

 related genera the species of which, in many cases, are not easily deter- 

 mined except from adult males. 



Typically the bill is broad and flat, but in certain genera it is narrow 

 and scarcely differs from the bill of some Turdine and Silvine birds. 

 The frontal nasal bristles, long rictal bristles, and the weak legs and feet, 

 are the most reliable family characters of this group. In the tj-pical 

 flycatchers the skin is very thin and tender which, taken in combination 

 with their small necks and large heads, makes their preparation as speci- 

 mens very trying. 



Some of the most beautiful birds found in the Philippine Islands 

 belong to this family, but several of the species are plainly colored. The 

 males in a few genera possess greatly lengthened tail-feathers; in some 

 others the head is crested. 



Genera. 



a\ First primary very small and less than tarsus, equal to about one-fifth of 

 second primary, the latter nearly as long as the third. 



Hemichelidon (p. 431) 

 a". First primary longer and equal to, or greater than, tarsus; second primary 

 less than three times the first. 

 h^. Second primary longer, equal to nearly three times the first. 

 c\ Sexes unlike in colors; bill neither very broad nor flat. 



d^. Tarsus about twice the bill from nostril; colors of male yellow, black, 



and white Zanthopygia (p. 449) 



d^. Tarsus decidedly less than twice the bill from nostril; colors of male 



blue, black, and white Cyanoptila (p. 450) 



c". Sexes alike in colors; bill broad and flat Alseonax (p. 435) 



b\ Second primary less than two and one-half times, and usually less than 

 twice, the first primary in length. 

 c\ Tail decidedly shorter than wing; total length usually less than 150 mm.; 

 wing less than 80. 

 d\ Most of the plumage blue; usually with more or less black on forehead, 

 lores, and chin. 

 e\ General color azure-blue; head in adult conspicuously crested. 



Camiguinia ( p. 453 ) 



e". General color verditer-blue; head uncrested Eumyias (p. 477) 



