1 62 VERTEBRATES: BIRDS. 



The Genus Milvtilus is characterized by a bill shorter 

 than the head, tail twice as long as the wing and exces- 

 sively forked. 



The Fork-tailed Flycatcher, M. tyrannus, Bonap., of 

 South America and accidental in the United States, is 

 fourteen inches long, wing four and three fourths inches, 

 the top and sides of the head glossy-black, the rump, 

 wings, and tail almost black, the rest of the upper parts 

 ash-gray, the under parts white, and the crown with a 

 concealed patch of yellow. 



The Scissor-tail, M. forficatus, Sw., of Texas to Mexico, 

 is thirteen inches long, the wing four and three fourths 

 inches, and is distinguished by the habit of closing and 

 opening the long feathers of the tail, like the blades of a 

 pair of scissors. 



The Genus Tyranmts has the tail rather shorter than 

 the wings, and nearly even or only moderately forked, 

 the wings long and pointed, the outer primaries attenu- 

 ated, and the head with a concealed patch of red. 

 The Kingbird or Bee Martin, T. carolinensis, Baird, 



of North America east of 

 the Rocky Mountains, is 

 eight and a half inches 

 long, the wing less than 

 five inches, the color above 

 dark bluish-ash, the lower 

 parts white, the sides of 

 the throat and across the 

 breast tinged with pale blu- 

 ish-ash, the top and sides 

 of the head bluish black, 



Kingbird, T. carolinensis, Baird. and the Concealed CrCSt 



vermilion in the centre, white behind, and before .par- 

 tially mixed with orange. Its favorite resorts are open 

 fields or orchards. Perched upon a stake or tall weed 



