GREY PIHA. 79 



In respect to its affinity with the red-throated 

 piha, it has already been observed, that although 

 the bill is shaped like that of several of the tyrants, 

 and is even as much bristled at its base, yet that the 

 commissure, as in Querula^ is arched, and not, as in 

 the Tyrannulce, perfectly straight ; the distinction is 

 of much importance, for it indicates that the bird 

 has nothing of the shrike-like habits or structure of 

 the true tyrants, and that it probably feeds as much 

 upon fruits as upon insects. It is this peculiarity 

 also which leads me to the belief that Tyranny* 

 calcaratus is merely a representative of our present 

 bird, although its colours are almost precisely the 

 same. The second affinity it shows to Querula is 

 in its feet and claws ; the first are remarkably feeble, 

 and covered with minute posterior tarsal scales 

 while the claws are broad, and not gradually taper 

 ing to an acute point, like those of the tyrants. 



The plumage is sufficiently described in the spe- 

 cific character ; the inner wing-covers and the vent 

 are nearly white, and the tail is perfectly even- Al- 

 though a common bird in South America, it has 

 been so confounded with others by the old writers, 

 that I can give no other synonyme with safety than 

 that of Le Vaillant. 



Total length, 9J inches ; bill, from the gape, 1^ 

 front, T 7 o ; wings, 4^ ; tail beyond, 2 ; base, 4^ 

 tarsus, f . 



We are now brought to the Psarince or black- 

 caps, represented by the genus 



