^ MUSCICAPnUE. 



nestling, and by the presence of numerous hairs stretching from 

 the forehead over the nostrils. These hairs lie horizontally, and 

 in all cases reach beyond the nostrils, and not unfreqtiently nearly 

 to the end of the bill. They are not to be confounded with the 

 rictal bristles, which are stiff and strong and lie laterally, nor are 

 they to be confounded with the lengthened shafts of the frontal 

 feathers, which in some of the Thrushes resemble hairs. These 

 latter, moreover, are never horizontal, nor do they extend over the 

 nostrils except in cases where this is brought about by accident, 

 such as careless preparation of the preserved specimen. 



The amount of mottling or squamation in the plumage of the 

 nestling varies considerably, but is present in every species in 

 a more or less marked degree. This character is perhaps least 

 developed in the genus Terpsiplione, the most typical of Ely- 

 catchers so far as structural characters are concerned ; but even in 

 this genus the mottled breast is unmistakable. 



The Flycatchers may further be recognized by their very feeble 

 tarsi and feet, which quite incapacitate them from walking on the 

 ground ; and this character will by itself be sufficient to separate 

 them from the Thrushes, in which the tarsi are long and the feet 

 strong. 



Young Flycatchers moult into adult plumage in most cases the 

 first autumn ; but Terpsiphone differs in this respect, the males 

 retaining an intermediate plumage for two or more years. 



Those Flycatchers which have abandoned their migratory habits 

 and have become resident are well differentiated by generic cha- 

 racters ; but others which are still migratory resemble each other 

 structurally very closely, and generic characters by which to 

 separate them into convenient groups are not easy to be found. 

 In the ■ following key, therefore, I have had recourse to types 

 of colour, which appear to work well and to bring allied birds 

 together into natural groups. 



The Flycatchers feed on insects, which they either catch on the 

 wing, starting from a perch to which they usually return several 

 times, or by running with the aid of their wings along the limbs of 

 trees. They seldom or never descend to the ground. The majority 

 construct their nests in holes of trees or banks, and some of the 

 species build very beautiful cup-shaped nests in the branches of 

 trees. Few of these birds have any song, and on the whole the 

 Flycatchers are remarkably silent. They are found solitary or in 

 pairs, and they are frequently familiar birds. 



Key to the Genera. 



a. Tail considerably shorter than Aving. 

 a'. Second primary equal to the fifth. 



a". Closed wings not reaching- beyond 



middle of tail Muscicapa, p. 4. 



b" . Closed wings reaching nearly to tip 



°f tfil IIemichelidon, p. 



