TYRANT 999 



sequently the Family, Tyrannidse, in which Mr. Sclater {Cat. B. 

 Br. Mus. xiv. pp. 2-280) includes over 400 species, all peculiar 

 to the New World, and as already stated (p. 483) belonging 

 to the group Clamatores (Tracheophon^). These he pro- 

 visionally arranges in four subfamilies — Txniopterina} with 2 1 

 genera of more or less terrestrial habit, including Lichenops and 

 Copurus; Plakjrhynchinx with 20 genera, having very broad bills 



^" 



Platyehynciius. Hapalocercus. 



(After Swainson.) 



and Aveak feet, including Platyrhynchus and Hapalocercus ; Elaininx 

 having the gape without bristles and almost confined to the 

 Neotropical Region ; and Tyranninse with 28 genera, among which 

 he places Blacicus and Myiarchus (Tomfool) and their near ally 

 Contopus (Peewee) together with Empidias, to which he refers the 

 well-known Sayornis fuscus (Phcebe) while keeping Sayornis in his 

 first subfamily, as well as Milvulus (SciSSORS-TAiL ^) and of course 

 Tyranmis.^ 



In several respects some of these birds resemble the Shrikes ; 

 but it must be clearly understood that the likeness ^ is but 

 of analogy, and that there is no near affinity between the 

 two Families Laniidai and Tyrannidge, which belong to wholly 

 distinct sections of Passeres ; and, while the former is a com- 

 paratively homogeneous group, as much diversity of form and 

 habits is found among the latter as among the Dendrocolaptidse. 

 (Picucule), testifying to the antiquity of the Fauna of which both 

 are so characteristic. Similarly many of the smaller Tyrannidx 

 bear some analogy to certain Muscicapidse (Flycatcher), with 

 which they were at one time confounded ; but the difierence 



French Roitelet, German Koniglein (cf. D. "W. Thompson, Gloss, Greek Birds, 

 p. 174), and of com-se had nothing to do with the birds now called Tyrants. 



^ Accidentally misspelt Scizzors-tail, p. 816. 



^ Nearly akin to the King-bird is the Petchary or Chicheree, so called from 

 its loud and petulant cry, Tyrannus dominicensis, or T. griseus, one of the 

 most characteristic and conspicuous birds of the West Indies, and the earliest to 

 give notice of the break of day. In habits, except that it eats a good many 

 berries, it is the very counterparb of its congener, and is possibly even more 

 jealous of any intruder. At all events its pugnacity extends to animals from 

 which it could not possibly receive any harm, and is hardly limited to any 

 season of the year. 



^ It is curious that in at least some instances this likeness extends to 

 the eggs. 



