119. 
4352 SYSTEMATIC SYNOPSIS. —PASSERES — CLAMATORES. 
smaller than @, with the tail commonly less developed. Young: Similar; primary not 
abruptly emarginate; tail undeveloped ; no crov, yot, and little or no red. Lower Missis- 
sippi valley and Texas; usually N. to Indian *. 
tory and Kansas, even 8S. W. Missouri; accidental in 
New Jersey and New England! <A most elegant, 
graceful, and showy bird, abundant in Texas, con- 
spicuous by the display it inakes in opening and clos- 
ing the tail, like scissor-blades ; very active, dashing 
and noisy, like a king-bird, — all the large flyeatchers 
sharing this same impetuous, irritable disposition. 
Nesting like the king-bird’s; eggs 4-5, white, boldly 
blotched with reddish on the surface, and lilae shell- 
spots; laid in May. 
TYRAN'NUS. (Lat. tyrannus, a tyrant.) Kine Fiy- 
CATCHERS. ‘Tail moderate in size and shape, rather 
shorter than wing, even or. little rounded, emarginate 
or lightly forked. Wings long, pointed by the 2d—3d 
quills, lst and 4th little if any shorter, 5th and rest 
rapidly graduated. Several outer primaries abruptly 
emarginate or sinuate-narrowed on inner webs towards 
end. Bill stout, flaitish, fully bristled, notched, and 
hooked (fig. 278). Feet small and weak, the tarsus 
with scales obviously lapping around. Size large: 
length 8 inches or more; wing over 4. Sexes alike ; 
Q sharing the flaming crown-patch ; primaries legs or 
not emarginate? Young lacking the crown-spot and 
attenuation of primaries. Nest bulky, on a bough, 
compactly woven and felted. Eggs white, boldly Fic, 282. -— Swallow-tailed Flycatcher. 
marked with oval or tear-shaped spots of reddish- (Sheppard del. Nichols sc.) 
brown. Contains numerous species, 5 of N. Am., which have been divided into several named 
subgenera, but are closely interrelated through various exotic species. They are the ‘ king- 
birds” proper. 
Analysis of Species. 
No olive nor decided yellow; blackish and whitish. 
Only two primaries obviously emarginate. Tail about even, basi a white-tipped. Bill small, 
bey lsh CM OK) Sia MO eh Fe ond 0 Cog wa a anag c . . carolinensis 368 
Five or six primaries emarginate. Tail emarginate, merely lighter at end. "Bill oe 1.00 long. (Melit- 
tarchus) . . .  Aphege a apd a iy Db om Welt od MELONI CON StS mmcoe 
Olivaceous, with pure y ate on ety F rae on head. Bill ate ate. (Laphyctes.) 
Tail blackish, merely emarginate; wings dark brown. 
Several outer a | gradually attenuate for a long distance. Outer web of outer tail-feather 
NUS Poo oe Sa ieee BLES be © Sacre SC +. « verticalis 370 
Several outer primaries ppeptly ener ate oe. a cites! distance. Ontac web of outer tail-feather 
merely whitish-edged . . . . yer ge We le ees ee ilar nietne oC OCI CNEIGs Donk 
Tail dark brown, like the wings, obv cei forked | 
Several outer primaries abruptly emarginate for a short distance . . . . . +... . couchi 372 
T. carolinen’sis. (Of Carolina. Fig. 283.) \Kine-srrp. BEE-MARTIN. @9, adult: 
No olive nor decided yellow. Only two outer primaries obviously emarginate (fig. 279, b). 
Tail nearly even — if anything a little rounded. Blackish-ash, still darker or quite black on 
head, crown with a flaming spot. Below, pure white, the breast shaded with plumbeous. 
Wings dusky, with much whitish edging. Tail black, broadly and sharply tipped with 
white, the outer feather sometimes edged with the same. Bill and feet black. Young: 
Lacking emargination of the primaries, and no crown-spot; very young birds show rufous 
