BIRDS—TYRANNINAE—CONTOPUS. 187 
Comparative measurements of species. 
Catal. | Species. Locality. | Sex. Length.| Stretch | Wing. Tail. | Tarsus.| Middle Its claw, Bill Along | Specimen 
No. | of wings | | toe. alone. | above. | gape. | measured. 
| | | | | | | 
Carlisle, Pa....+.0- 3 6.80 4.26 3.30 0.54 0.64 0,22 0.64 0.90 
venees dO .ceccccvess|oveeee| 7.50 433 |occecce |recvcvselaceneces|cocscene|sveescne| seve cace 
Shoalwater bay, WT]...e0» G66) | se cten's 4,20 3.06 | 0.56 0.64 | 0,22 0.70 0.94 
seule WO veveeescceeleeeeee! 7.75 | WSO | oc ee cece leer eee teen tees teen tees teen eee eee e eee rete eee 
.| Colorado river, 0.7.) O 5586 |seveeets 3.96 2.64 0.50 | 0.50, 0.16 | 0.48 0.70 
Petaluma, Cal.....) 3 5.82 3.42 | 2.70 | 0.50 | 0.52 | 0.20} 0.50) 0.76 
Platte river 3 6,30 3.51 3.00) 0.51) 0.46 0.18 0,52 0.76 | 
MCXICO scree | 6.02 3.38 2.76 0.50 0.50 | 0.16 0.48 0.70 
Carlisle, Pa....eoee | 5,50 3.38 2.86 0.50 0.50 | 0.20 0.48 0.70 
seaee dO .ecceee cesleoceee| 6.16 3.50 | cco ccccleccccccclocnecccelocescecslcnceces |sevccecs 
Sea do | Q | 5.90]........] 3.14] 2.66] 0.50) 0.46! 0.16] 0.50| 0.70 | 
podocs Oty ereieseere ereena|(0h O+10)|a 10200) lira Pashia baer fale .| 
PE SAC. VAICY. occisc|sessee 5.80 |weccecee 3.34 2.76 0.51 0.46 0,20 0.48 0.68 
Guatemala .....0..)seeees 5.90 |oeeeaees 3.36 2.74 | 0.50 0.46 0.20 0.48 0.72 
GENERAL REMARKS, 
There is, perhaps, no group in ornithology, certainly none among American birds, the species 
and genera of which are so difficult to determine as those of the small olivaceous flycatchers. 
The variations of size, color, and proportions are generally very slight, (though constant,) and 
only to be appreciated after a close examination and actual comparison of specimens, as well as 
long familiarity with the subject. Very few of the older authors describe the species so that they 
can be recognized at all, and the identification is usually made from statement of locality, habit, 
or common name. Wilson was the first to give accurate and intelligible descriptions of the 
species inhabiting the United States, and it would have avoided much contusion if they had 
been actually the first presented to the world. 
In comparing the smell North American olivaceous fiycatchers together, usually known as 
species of Zyrannula, I find two well marked groups worthy of generic separation: one with 
short legs and pointed wings, the other with longer legs and rounded wings. In this, however, 
it becomes a question what is to be done with the old name. The type of Tyrannuia, Swainson, 
(1827,) is the Muscicapa barbata of Gmelin, a species with a yellow spot in the middle of the 
crown, and the rump yellow, the bill very broad and with the bristles equalling it in length. 
All these characters, and others, are entirely different from those attaching to our species, and 
the same generic name cannot be used for them without great impropriety. 
The same objections apply to Myiobius of Gray, (1838,) this being a simple substitute for the 
Tyrannula, supposed to be nullified from its resemblance in sound to Tyrannulus of prior date. 
The two names, however, are sufliciently distinct to involve no difficulty in their use. 
Reichenbach makes numerous species among the Tyranninae, (Avium Systema Nature, plates 
65, 66, 67,) but, as far as I can judge from his figures, none are applicable here. In the 
1 TYRANNULA BARBATA, Swaipson. 
Muscicapa barbata, Gu. I, 1788, 933.—Laruam, Ind. Orn. II, 1790, 488. 
Muscipeta barbata, Pr. Max. Beitrige, III, 934. 
Tyrannula barbata, Swainson, Zool. Jour. II, Dec. 1827, 359. 
Mytobius barbatus, Burmeister, Thiere Bras. IT, 1856, 501. 
Platyrhynchus xanthopygius, Six, Av. Bras. U, p’. ix. 
Hab.— Coast region of Brazil, according to Burmeister, from whom most of the preceding synonyms and the indications of the 
species are cited. 
