TYRANNID^ — THE FLYCATCHERS. 307 



Grande, not far from the border of the United States, but as tliey have not 

 yet been detected within our limits, we have concluded to omit them in the 

 present work. 



The bird fauna of America inay be said to have one of its chief features 

 in the great number and variety of its Tijrannidce, the family being strictly 

 a New World one. Nearly every possible diversity of form is exhibited by 

 different members ; the size, however, usually varying from that of our com- 

 mon Eobin to that of the Kinglet, our smallest bird with exception of the 

 Humming-Bird. Of the numerous subfamilies, however, only one, the 

 Tyrannince proper, belongs to North America, and will be readily distin- 

 guished from otlier of our land birds by the family characters given at the 

 head of this article, and which, as drawn up, apply rather to the subfamily 

 than to the Tyrannidoi generally. 



The North American species of the Tyrannince may, for our present 

 purposes, be divided into Tyranni and Tyrannuli. The former are large, 

 generally with bright color, pointed wings, with attenuated primaries and a 

 colored crest in the middle of the crown. The others are plainer, smaller, 

 without colored crest ; the primaries not attenuated. 



The genera of our Flycatchers may be arranged as follows : — 



TYRANNI. Size large ; colors generally brilliant ; crown with a brightly 

 colored crest, usually concealed ; outer primaries abruptly contracted or attenu- 

 ated near the tip ; upper scales of tarsus usually continuing round on tlie outside 

 and behind. Nest in trees, very bulky, containing much downy material ; eggs 

 white or pinkish, with ovate dots of rich brown, of various shades. 



Milvulus. Tail excessively forked and lengthened ; more than twice 



as long as the wings. 



Tyrannus. Tail moderate ; nearly even or slightly forked ; less than 



the wings. 

 TYRANNULI. Size generally small ; colors usually plain ; crown without 

 any colored crest concealed by the tips of the feathers ; primaries normal ; scales 

 of the upper part of the tarsus usually continuing only to the middle of the 

 outer face, and a second series opposite to them behind. 



1. Tail lengthened; about equal to the wings, which reach scarcely to its 

 middle. 



Myiarchus. Tarsus equal to the middle toe, which is decidedly longer 

 than the hinder one. Tail even or rounded. Throat pale ash, rest of 

 lower parts yellow generally, the primaries edged with rufous, and 

 inner webs of tail-feathers with more or less of the same color. Nest 

 in a cavity of a tree, of loose material ; eggs whitish, with intricate 

 tangled lines and streaks of dark brown, the general effect salmon-color. 

 Sayornis. Tarsus rather longer than the middle toe, which is scarcely 

 longer than the hind toe. Tail slightly forked. Bill very narrow. No 

 light orbital ring, nor distinct bands on wings ; both mandibles black. 

 Nest attached to rocks or parts of buildings, very compact and bulky, 

 containing much mud in its composition ; eggs pure white, immaculate, 

 or with very minute sparse dots near larger end. 



2. Tail decidedly shorter than the wings, which reach beyond its middle. 

 Tarsus shorter than the middle toe. 



