TYRANXIDS — THE TVKAXT FLYCATCHERS'. 343 



more elongated, less depressed, the outlines straigbtcr, while there 

 are various other differences. Upon the whole, the genus may be 

 considered quite a natural gi'oup. 



The species vary among themselves not only in colors, but in 

 other respects also, each one having its ovra peculiarities of external 

 form, so that were all identical in coloration they could even then be 

 readily distinguished. Attempts have been made to subdivide the 

 g«nus, but all have proved unsatisfactory. There is, truly, a vast dif- 

 ference in size and form between the robust, almost gigantic, 2\ mar/ni- 

 rostris, and the little T. aurantio-atrocristatus; but as other species are 

 variously intermediate, it seems best to consider the variations of 

 form and size in tliis genus as of mainly specific importance. 



The single eastern species and two western ones which may be 

 expected to occur in Illinois differ from one another as follows : 



A. Lower r-irts white, upper parts blackish. 



1. T. tyrannus. Wings black, feathers margined with white. Tail black, sharpl/ 

 tipped with white. 



B. Lower parts yellow, ashy anteriorly; upper parts ashy oliye. 



2. T. vertioalis. Wings brownish dusky, feathers indistinctly edged with paler. 

 Tail deep black, the outer webs of lateral leathers pure white, in abrupt contrast. 

 Throat and jugulum pale ashy-gray. 



3. T. vociferans. Wings light brownish gray, the feathers with paler edges. Tail 

 dull black, the tip dull gi-ayish, as are also the outer webs of the lateral feathers. 

 Throat and juguluna deep slate-gray. 



Tyrannus tyrannus (Linn.) 



KINGBIED. 



Popnlar synonyms. Bee Bird; Bee Martin. 



Laniiis tyrannus LiNN. S. N. ed. i. 1758,94; ed. 12,1,1766,136. 

 iluscicapa tyrannus WiLs. Am. Orn. i.lSOS, 66,pl. 13,fig. 1.— NnTT. Man. 1, 1S32. 265.— 

 AUD. Orn. Biog. i. 1840,453; v,1842,42ii,pl. 79; Synop. 18:59.40; B. Am. 1,1839,204, pi. 56. 

 Tyrannus tijraniius Jokd. Man. Vort. cd. 4,1884,96. 

 Lanius tj/rannus.yar. y. caroUnensis Gmel,. S. N. 1,1788,302. 

 Tyrannus caroUnensis Te.mm. Tabl. Meth. 1836, 24.— Baikd. B. N. Am. 1858, 171; Cat. 

 N. Am. B. 1&59,No. 124.— Cooes, Key . 1S?2, 169 ; Check List, 1874, No. 242; 2d ed. 1882, 

 No. 368; B. N. W. 1874, 235.— B. B. & R. Hist. N. Am. B. 11. 1874. 316. pi. 43. flg. 4.— 

 KiDGW. Norn. N. Am, B. 1881. No. 304. 



Hab. Eastern North America, north to 57° in the interior, west, regularly, to and in- 

 cluding the Boeky Mountiiins, and Irregularly to the Pacific coast, especially along 

 northern boundary of the United States; in winter, the whole of Middle America, and 

 south to Peru and Bolivia; Cuba and Bahamas. 



"Sp. Chae. Adult. Above black, becoming plumbeous on the back, scapulars, and 

 rump; large wing-coverts and remiges edged with whitish; upper tail-coverts bordered 

 with white, and tail broadly tipped with the same. Below pure white, strongly shaded 

 with ash-gray across the jugulum. Middle of the crown with a concealed patch of bright 

 orange-red. Toung. Above dusky brownish-slate, the wing-coverts bordered with pale 



