of the United Staits. 73 



Bill moderate or elongated, much compressed, higher 

 than wide at base, straight or slightly curved ; upper mandible 

 a little vaulted, notched and curved at tip; lower a little shorter, 

 straight, notched, ascending at tip, acute : nostrils basal, 

 oval, half closed by a membrane : tongue short, generally 

 somewhat bristled at tip. Tarsus rather slender, very long 

 or moderate ; lateral toes subequal, shorter than the middle 

 one, which is united at base with the inner, and to the outer 

 as far as the first articulation ; hind toe a little longer and 

 more robust than the inner : nails moderate, incurved, acute ; 

 the hind one largest. Wings short, rounded ; first primary 

 shortest ; the following gradually longer to the fourth or 

 fifth, which is longest. Tail very short and even, or mode- 

 rate and much rounded. 



Female larger than the male, and, with the young differing 

 considerably in colour from the adult male. 



Live generally in families or small troops, different species 

 in company, in dry uninhabited countries, principally dense 

 forests. Feed exclusively on insects, especially ants. Run 

 swiftly on the ground, and leap with agility ; seldom alight- 

 ing, and then on the lowest branches of trees. Flight low 

 and short. Voice harsh and peculiar. Flesh oily and un- 

 palatable. Tropical ; chiefly American. Allied to Turdus 

 by Pitta on one side, to Lanius by Tamnophilus on another, 

 and to Troglodytes on a third. 



94. Myiotheka obsoleta, Nob. Dusky-brownish, undulated 

 with pale ; beneath whitish, marked with brown ; tail two 

 inches long, rounded, ferruginous- yellow at tip; bill very 

 slender, slightly curved, one inch long ; tarsus seven-eighths 

 of an inch. 



Rocky Mountain Ant-catcher, Myiothera obsoleta, Nob. Am. 

 Orn. i. p. 6. pi. i. Jig 2. Troglodytes obsoleta, Say. 



Inhabits near the Rocky Mountains. Placed on the ex- 

 treme limits of the genus, near Troglodytes 



