224 MUSCICAPA. 



the smallest of any species we have yet seen ; and, 

 for this genus, is remarkably narrow and compressed. 

 We are, indeed, sceptical as to the birds described 

 by Temminck as the female and young male of 

 albicollis; the white edging of the lateral tail- 

 feathers, said to exist in the adult male only, is 

 opposed to every conclusion drawn from analogy, 

 more particularly among the insectivorous birds. 

 But to pursue our analysis of the Muscicapce further, 

 will, however, be needless. All the variations that 

 we can possibly speak of, from personal knowledge, 

 have been enumerated, but several more no doubt 

 exist. Tbroughout all these, the only characters in 

 which no material variation can be detected are 

 those of the feet : first, the middle toe is always 

 long, and is of the same length as the tarsus; 

 2. the tarsus itself is always smooth, and is de- 

 fended in front by one entire scale ; and, 3. the 

 outer toe is in all united to the middle as far as the 

 first joint. Now these three characters will of 

 themselves enable any ornithologist to distinguish 

 the group from all those which it resembles in other 

 families. It may be further remarked, that we 

 have not hitherto seen one species of an olive-green, 

 that colour apparently belonging only to the sub- 

 genus Cryptolopha, where the wings, instead of 

 being pointed, are rounded. 

 The last sub-genus is 



