128 LEUCOCIRCA. 



designate as new ; for not being figured, it is totally 

 impossible to identify them with the loose and 

 vague descriptions drawn up at a time when orni- 

 thology comparatively was in its infancy. 



We have not, as yet, been able to determine 

 whether Rhipidura or Leucocirca should be viewed 

 as the pre-eminent type of this genus. If we con- 

 sidered that this station should be assigned to that 

 division which, from what we yet know, shows the 

 greatest developement of the tail, joined to a supe- 

 rior length and strength of foot, then Leucocirca 

 must have the preference; but if we regard the 

 greatest difference in the form of the bill from that 

 so common among the typical flycatchers (Musci- 

 capa), then we must place Rhipidura, at the head 

 of this genus. This point, however, is not of great 

 moment to our present object, seeing that we have 

 only just began to understand something of the 

 whole group, which will probably be enriched, 

 in a few years, with double the number of species 

 now known. There can be no doubt, however, 

 that the two sub-genera now described are the 

 typical and sub-typical forms ; a conclusion which 

 may be drawn, not merely from their following 

 each other in absolute affinity, but from the nature 

 of the others, to which we now proceed. 



It will be perceived, by a reference to the table 

 already given, that the genus Rhipidura, as a 

 whole, is succeeded by that of Muscicapa; it fol- 

 lows, therefore, that the type which comes next 

 .should resemble a Muscicapa more than doei 



