45 



of the vocal organs. They inckide a number of well-marked 

 family groups, and are very numerous in species. The Broad- 

 mouths (family Eiirylaimidce) have a strong external resemblance 

 to the Barbets, with which they were formerly associated by 

 systematists. They present, however, many features of the true 

 Song-birds. They form a small group of about a dozen species, 

 of rather strikingly-colored small birds, confined to Southeastern 

 Asia (see Case S). 



The family Xfnicidce comprises but three or four species, found 

 only in New Zealand (Case S), which in habits and external 

 appearance so greatly resemble Wrens and Creepers as to have 

 been until recently associated with them as true Song-birds, their 

 clamatorial character having been only lately determined. 



The Philepittidm consists of only two species, inhabiting Mada- 

 gascar (Case S), which somewhat resemble the Sun-birds, and also 

 the Birds-of-Paradise, their position in the present connection 

 having been only recently established by anatomical examination 

 of their structure. 



The true Pittas {Fi/tidce) are quite Thrush-like in the form of 

 the bill and in some other features, and have been sometimes 

 called Ground Thrushes. They are birds of the Old World 

 tropics, most numerously represented in the large islands of 

 Borneo and Sumatra, where these brilliantly-colored birds (Case 

 S) attain their highest beauty. In the rich contrasts of purples, 

 greens, blues, crimsons, and yellows, they fairly vie with the gor- 

 geous coloring of the Tanagers of the New World. Nearly forty 

 species are currently recognized, distributed from Africa to 

 Australia. 



The Tyrant Flycatchers (family Tyra/i/iidce) are all American, 

 and about nine-tenths of the three hundred and fifty species are 

 tropical ; the other tenth is North America.n, of which our King- 

 bird and PeAvees are familiar representatives (Case B, and Groups 

 34 and 35). They are pugnacious and quarrelsome, well deserv- 

 ing the name "tyrants." They present great diversity of size 

 and form (see Case G) ; many are crested, and some are brightly 

 colored, but a large proportion of even the tropical forms are 

 clad in the plainest and most inconspicuous browns and olives. 

 The most striking forms are the Scissor-tailed and Fork-tailed 



