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MUSCICAPA 



to that sub-genus which immediately follows Myia- 

 gra. All the birds coming under this designation 

 have, in comparison to the three last divisions, 

 longer and more pointed wings, stronger and more 

 equal lateral claws, and shorter and more even tails. 

 The bill, also, is materially different from all the 

 other sub-genera, and more resembles that of Co- 

 nopophaga : it is small, short, and rather strong, the 

 sides being considerably compressed, although the 

 base is still broad. These characters are more or 

 less developed in different species; but they are 

 sufficient, even in the most aberrant examples, to 

 prevent any ornithologist, with proper attention, 

 from confounding this group with any we have yet 

 noticed in the family. The tarsi have also this pe- 

 culiarity, that although they are often not longer 

 than in Myiagra, or in Muscipeta, they are never- 

 theless stouter, and the scales which cover them in 

 front, instead of being divided, are formed of an 

 entire piece. This* although a minute character, is 

 yet the most constant, and therefore one of the 

 most important. The compression of the bill is 

 accompanied by a thickening of the under mandi- 

 ble, the gonys of which, instead of being straight, 

 is curved upwards ; the bristles at the base, although 



