PERCHING-BIRDS. 113 
The name “Tyrant ” is specially applicable to the larger birds of this 
group, on account of their pugnacious disposition, and they frequently 
attack other birds, often of superior size and strength. They are 
mostly clad in dull colours, but a few are ornamented with erectile 
crests, as in Muscivora (1758), or brilliantly coloured, as in Pyrocephalus 
(1761). 
Four subfamilies have been recognised, the first being the Tenio- 
pterine, which includes a number of dull-coloured grey and black 
species. The most noteworthy form, on account of its abnormal tail, 
is dlectrurus tricolor (1732), from the Pampas district of South 
America, and the Yiperu (Cybernetes yetapa) (1733), one of the largest 
forms, has a very long and deeply forked tail. 
The second subfamily, Platyrhynchine, embraces a number of small 
Flycatcher-like birds with flattened bills and dull olive-coloured plumage. 
Among the examples shown we may draw attention to the crested form 
Colopterus galeatus (1736), in which the outer flight-feathers of the 
male are curiously abbreviated, and to Euscarthmus gularis (1774), 
which, with its dome-shaped nest with the entrance at the side, is to be 
found on the floor of the Case. 
The Elaineine, or Olive Tyrants, form a third subfamily, with the 
bill more compressed and the bristles at the base much less developed. 
The general colour of the species is olive-green or sombre brown, in 
harmony with the dense forests to which they mostly resort, and the 
majority have an orange or red vertical spot on the top of the head. 
The bright-tinted reed-frequenting Cyanotis azare (1743) is an exception 
both in colours and habits. Elainea ridleyana (1716) and its near allies 
build a small cup-shaped nest of moss and lichen ; while Myiozetetes 
similis (1118) makes a loosely-constructed domed nest of fibre with an 
entrance at the side. These will be found on the floor of the Case. 
The largest species is Myiodynastes bairdi (1751), a bird about the size 
of a Thrush. 
Of the fourth subfamily, Tyrannine (which includes all the largest 
members of the family, with flattened bills and well-developed bristles), 
the most remarkable are the long fork-tailed species Milvulus tyrannus 
(1772) and M. forficatus (1178) ; the King-Tyrant (Muscivora regia) 
(1758), with its tiara-like crest of orange feathers tipped with shining 
purple ; and the scarlet-plumaged Pyrocephalus rubineus (1161), repre- 
senting the only brilliantly coloured genus of the Tyrannine. 
Family V. Puyroromipa. PLANt-cUTTERs. 
The few finch-like species of the genus Phytotoma (1780-1) in- 
cluded in this family are all natives of South America. They are 
I 
{Case 70. | 
