Vol. xxn Yqjj Ihering, Biology of the TyratinidcE. 32 1 



SO far as such exist among the Tyrannidoe. This fact is in inti- 

 mate relation with the special biological conditions of the campos. 

 No migratory birds at all exist among the wood-inhabiting Tyran- 

 nid«, nor among the Pipridce, Formicariida; and other families of 

 the forests. 



True migratory birds are scarcely represented in South America 

 and are essentially restricted to two families of insectivorous birds, 

 the Hirundinidai and the Tyrannidae. In South Brazil, from Rio 

 Grande to S. Paulo, I have observed migratory habits in the fol- 

 lowing species: — 



Myiodynastes soUtarius (Vieill.). Tyrannus tneIanchoUcusN\€\V\.. 

 Fyrocephalus rubineus (Bodd.). Miiscivora tyrannus (L.). 



As I am preparing a paper on this subject to be published in 

 ' Aquila ' I will not discuss it in the present paper. It is evident, 

 however, from the preceding deductions, that in biological respects 

 the family of Tyrannidce is one of the most interesting of the 

 Neotropical Avifauna, strongly contrasting with the uniformity 

 which in this regard prevails in most of the other characteristic 

 families. 



Although the object. of this essay was only to refer to some 

 general biological features and habits common to certain sub- 

 families I nevertheless think it useful to give briefly the results 

 of my observations, as they may be of service to a subsequent 

 worker who will undertake the necessary systematic revision of 

 the family Tyrannidae. They are as follows : 



(i) The Tffiniopterinae represent a very natural systematic 

 group but as usually arranged include some strange elements, 

 such as Sayornis, Sisopygis, and probably Machetornis, which 

 should be removed to other subfamilies. 



(2) The Platyrhynchinae of the systematic arrangement of Mr. 

 Sclater contain two quite different sections, the Euscarthminas 

 and the Serphophaginae. 



(3) The Elaineinai contain some aberrant forms which should 

 be removed to other subfamilies. For example, the genus Rhyn- 

 chocyclus should go to the Euscarthminas, and the genera Legatus, 

 Myiozetetes, Conopias^ Pitangus, Sirystes and Afyiodynastes should 

 form a subfamily, Pitanginae, a section which biologically is inti- 



