218 MUSCICAPA. 



tracing the chain of progression. The Myiagra 

 flavipes differs from all those in its own sub-generic 

 circle, not only in the feet, but in the great length 

 of the wings, and the shortness of the tail. Now 

 this evidently points it out as an aberrant species, 

 and gives an intimation, that in the group which is 

 to come next, some species will be found having 

 one or more of these characters, and yet partaking 

 likewise of those more properly belonging to My'ia- 

 gra. And such a bird has fortunately been de- 

 scribed. The Myiagra macroptera* y in short, 

 realizes precisely what the law of variation would 

 lead us to expect. It is a Myiagra, according to 

 M. M. Horsfield and Vigors, in its bill, " but the 

 comparative length of the wings, and the shortness 

 of the tail, distinguish it from the other species of 

 that group ; the wings reach to the extremity of the 

 latter member/' Now as this structure is almost 

 precisely what we see in M.flavipes, why not place 

 both in one group ? Here, however, the similarity 

 ceases. M.flavipes has a conspicuous crest, because 

 it is the rasorial type, while its feet are particularly 

 short. M . macroptera has no crest, and its feet are 

 fully as long as those of Mwcicapa grisola^. It 

 retains, in short, according to the account of its 

 describers, nothing of Myiagra but its bill ; for its 

 wings, tail, and feet, are those of our Musdcapce* 



* Horsf. and Vigors. Linn. Trans, xv. 



f The tarsi of these three birds measure as follows:-. 

 Myiagra flavipes four-tenths of an inch, Mitscicapa grisola six 

 tenths, Myiagra macroptera (H. and V.), thirteen-twentieths. 



