314 



NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



again about the first of April. The resounding strokes of their wings and 

 their oft-repeated cries are heard just before the dawn of day. They usually 

 have but three eggs. 



A single individual of Milvulus, and supposed to be one of this species, 

 was seen by Mr. C. Drexler, May 6, 1861, but was not obtained, in the 

 vicinity of Washington. Another bird of this species is mentioned by Mr. 

 Abbott as having been taken near Trenton, N. J., April 15, 1872. It was a 

 male bird in full health and feather. Its stomach was found to be full of 

 small coleoptera, insects' eggs, flies, etc. 



The eggs of this species vary greatly in size, from .92 by .75 to .80 by .60 

 of an inch. They are in shape a rounded oval, and tapering at one end. 

 The ground-color is white, marked with a few very large dark red spots, 

 and occasionally of an obscure purple. 



Genus TYR ANNUS, Cuvier. 



Tyrannus, CuviEE, Le9ons Aiiat. Comp. 1799, 1800 (Agassiz). 



Gen. Char. Tail nearly even, or moderately forked ; rather shorter than the wings ; 



the feathers broad, and widen- 

 ing somewhat at the ends. 

 Wings long and pointed ; the 

 outer primaries rather abruptly 

 attenuated near the end, the 

 attenuated portion not linear, 

 however. Head with a con- 

 cealed patch of red on the 



The species of this 

 genus are especially char- 

 acterized by their long, 

 attenuated primaries, their 

 moderately forked or 

 nearly even tail, and the 

 concealed colored crest in 

 Tyrannvs caroUnensis. ^-j-^g grown. Their affini- 



ties are nearest to Milvulus, from which the tail, shorter than the wings, 

 instead of twice as long, or more, will always serve as a point of distinction. 

 The attenuation of the primary differs in being less abrupt, and not truly 

 linear, sloping gradually, and not bounded behind by a notch. We are 

 unable to appreciate any other differences of importance. 



The character and extent of the attenuation of the primaries, the depth 

 of the fork of the tail, with the size of the legs and bill, all vary considerably, 

 and may, perhaps, serve as ground for further subdivisions. The bill, in 

 particular, varies much in size in the North American species, from that of 



