SPECTACLE, OR WHITE-WINGED WATER-CHAT. 107 



he upper part brown; in both sexes the legs are 

 ieep black. 



Total length, 6 inches; bill, gape, T 8 ; wings, 

 (3%; tail beyond, 1; base, 2f; tarsus, 1. 



We now enter upon the sub-family of the 



MUSCICAPINjE, 



GENUINE FLY-CATCHERS, 



by far the most extensive and consequently varied 

 group of this family. It is composed of those broad 

 billed insectivorous little birds which dart upon 

 their prey as it were from an ambush; they fix 

 their station on the end of a branch or a projecting 

 spray, from whence they suddenly dart upon such 

 flying insects as come within a certain range, seldom 

 making any attempt to pursue them, or to repeat 

 another swoop if the first has been unsuccessful ; 

 sedentary habits, such as these, are not likely to call 

 the feet of such birds into exercise, we consequently 

 find that these members are always short and re- 

 markably feeble in every part of their construction; 

 the length of the tarsus, in fact, is very seldom more 



