AVES. 345 



About twenty-five birds are arranged here, which are restricted to the 

 warm regions of South America. They generally live in low bushes, 

 among the lower branches of trees, or on the ground, and their food is said 

 to consist principally of coleopterous insects (beetles, &c.). 



Fluvicola cursoria is a common species. 



Sub-fam. 3. TyrannincB, or Tyrant Flycatchers. Bill more or less long, 

 broad, and depressed at base, sides compressed to the tip, which is hooked ; 

 wings generally lengthened and pointed ; tail moderate, generally broad ; 

 tarsi and feet short and generally weak. Size mostly small. 



Another exclusively American group, containing a large number of birds, 

 king birds, pewees, tyrants, &c., of which the greater part are found only 

 in South America. 



There are several North American species, however, of which the 

 common king bird of the United States, Tyrannus intrepidus, is a good 

 example. 



He is abundant from Florida to Canada, and is quite sociable and familiar 

 in his habits and disposition, almost invariably building his nest in the 

 immediate vicinity of dwelling-houses. He is very pugnacious, and makes 

 a very respectable show of fight with almost any other bird that dares to 

 intrude upon his privileges, although it may be much larger and stronger 

 than himself. 



The king bird has no song, and but little voice of any kind. 



The great crested flycatcher, T. crinitus, is another species, though 

 much less frequently seen than the king bird. 



The greater part, however, of the North American flycatchers belong to 

 the genus Tyrannula, or little tyrants, of which the species are numerous 

 in both North and South America. 



One of the best known species is the common pewee, or pewit, T. nun- 

 ciola, which is a universal favorite with our population. * 



Though possessing very limited vocal abilities, the notes of this little bird 

 are pleasing, because they are almost the first heard at the return of spring, 

 and he forthwith begins the construction of his nest, about the barn, in 

 a shed, or some such place, little annoyed by the family of his landlord or 

 by domestic animals. 



This common and favorite bird spends the winter in the south. " I have 

 found," says Audubon, " this species abundant in Florida in winter, in full 

 song, and as lively as ever ; also in Louisiana and the Carolinas, particu- 

 larly in the cotton fields. They leave Louisiana in February and return 

 in October." 



The wood pewee, T. virens, is very common in the woods 



Several other species are found in North America, such as Say's fly- 

 catcher, T. sa.ya, Cooper's flycatcher, T. cooperii, the green crested, 

 T. acadica, the yellow-bellied, T. Jiaviventris, and some others. 



A large number of species, composing several genera, inhabit South 

 America, such as Milvulus forjicatus (pi. 103, fg. 10) and Tyrannus 

 severus (pi. lO'S, fig. 9). 



Siih-fam. 4. Tityrincs, or Becards. Bill rather short, broad at base, 



549 



