74 



MUSCICAPID.K. 



MU8CICAPID.K 



V!t 



fruit U never produced on the so-called mala plants, uid nevor on the 

 o-called female, unless the male* occur in the vicinity. Several examples 

 are cited in the work of Schimper above referred to. When the sexes 

 occur alone, the increase of the plant U wholly dependent on the 

 propagation by gemma or innovations. 



" By the discovery of the antheridia and pUtillidia in the other 

 higher Cryptogam*, the argument! from analogy greatly strengthen 

 the hypothesU of the sexuality of Moms. 



" Further obserration U required then for the direct proof of the 

 occurrence of a process of fertilisation in the Mosses ; but the facts 

 now before us all tend to prove their sexuality, if we argue from 

 analogy, and the probabilities deduced from the negative evidence 

 above referred to, in regard to the dicscious species. 



" It is unnecessary to give any account of the well-known structure 

 of the MOM capsules ; yet, in order to render the comparison with the 

 pbtenomeua of the life of Mosses with those of the other leafy Cryp- 

 togams complete, it may be worth while to allude to the germination 

 of the spores. The spore is a single cell with a double coat, like a 

 pollen-grain ; this germinates by the protrusion of the inner coat in 

 the form of a filamentous or rather tubular process, which grows out 

 and becomes subdivided by septa, so as to form a confervoid filament 

 The lateral branches bud out from some of the cells, some elongating 

 into secondary filaments, others at once undergoing a more active 

 development, and by the multiplication of their cells assuming the 

 condition of conical cellular masses, upon which the forms of Moss 

 leave* may soon be detected ; these cellular masses becoming buds, 

 from* which the regular leafy stems arise. 



" lltjiatica. The genera comprehended in this family present a 

 wonderful variety of structure in the reproductive organs, but in almost 

 all of them the existence of the two kinds of organs called pistillidia 

 and antheridia have long been demonstrated, and in most cases the 

 development of the sporangia from the so-called pistillidia has been 

 traced. In those genera in which the plants most resemble the Mosses 

 in the vegetative portion, as in Junyermannia, the pistillidia are very 

 like those of the Mosses ; this is also the case in Marchantia ; but in 

 Ptltia, Anthocerot, and other genera, the rudiment of the sporangium 

 bears a striking resemblance to the so-called ovules of the Ferns, 

 Rhimearpea, &c., occurring upon the expanded fronds very much in 

 the same way as those bodies do upon the pro-embryoes of the said 

 families. It would occupy too much space to enter into a minute 

 detail of the various conditions that are met with. It U sufficient to 

 Bay that in all cases the physiological stages are analogous to those of 

 the Mosses ; since the pistillidia produced upon the fronds, or leaf- 

 bearing stems, developed directly from the spores, go on to produce a 

 sporangium alone, in which the new spores are developed without the 

 intervention of the stage of existence presented by the pro-embryo of 

 the Ferns and Eijuitetaeea, where the pistillidia and antheridia occur 

 upon a temporary frond, and the former give origin to the regular 

 item and leave* of the plant" 



The genera of Mosses are principally characterised by peculiarities 

 in the periitome, or by modifications of the calyptra, and of the position 

 of the urn. Linnaeus admitted very few genera, but modern muscolo- 

 gists have increased the number very largely. 



Mosses are found all over the world where the atmosphere is humid. 

 They are however more common in temperate than in tropical climates. 

 Mo**e* are among the first plants that spring up on the surface of 

 inorganic matter, at first appearing like a green stain, when they merely 

 consist of germinating spores, but soon clothing themselves with leaves, 

 and then by their decay producing the earliest portion of decomposed 

 vegetable matter with which the soil is fertilised. 



Lindley separates the genera Andraa and Anotchitma from the rest 

 of hi* Mtuci under the order Andnracea: The spore-case* in this 

 order open by valve*, and have an operculum, but no elater*. 



(Bridel, Bryoloyia L'ntrtrialit ; Hedwig. T/ieoria Generationii, Jkc., 

 Plantar** Cryptoganicamm ; Endlicher, tientra Plantarum ; Hooker 

 and Taylor, MuKologia Britannica; Lindley, Vegetable Kingdom; 

 Henfrey, in Report of Brititk Auocialion, 1851.) 



MUSCICA'PIU.*, Plycaiclien, a family of Insectivorous Birds, so 

 named from their mode of taking their prey. Thus, M. Temminck 

 state* that the Flycatchers (Oobe-Mouches) feed entirely on flies and 

 other winged insect*, which they catch as they fly (' Manuel d'Omi- 

 thologie') ; and our countryman White says: "There is one circum- 

 stance characteristic of this bird (the Spotted Flycatcher, Muicicapa 

 grinla) which seems to have escaped observation, and that is, it takes 

 it* stand on the top of some stake or post, whence it springs forth on 

 it* prey, catching a fly in the air, and hardly ever touching the ground, 

 but returning still to the same stand for many times together." 

 ( Nat. Hirt. of Selborne.') 



Linnsras, in bis last edition of the 'System* Natures,' places the 

 genus Mtucicapa, containing the True Flycatchers, the Tyrants (.V. 

 Tyrannm), and several other specie* to the amount of 21, between the 



genera Frinyillit and Motacilla. 



Cuvier places the Uobc-Moiiches (Muicicapa, Linn.) between the 

 Pies-Ciriechn (Butcher- Birds, Laniut, Linn.) and the Cotingas (A mpclit, 

 Lino.). He describe* the group as having the bill depressed horizon- 

 tally, and furnished with hairs or vibrinste at its base, and it* point 

 more or lew hooked and notched ; and he makes the Flycatchers con- 

 list of tin Tyrant* (Tynmntu, Linn.); the Moucherole* (Mviciptta, 



C'uv.); the Platyrbynques, or Broad-Bills; certain species high on the 

 legs and with a short tail (Turdut auritia, Qm. Conopopkaga, Vieill.) ; 

 the Tnie Flycatchers (Mutcicapa, Cuv.) ; and other variations of form, 

 principally in the bill, which becomes more slender in some, thus 

 approximating to the Figuien ; ami iu others has the arete a little 

 more elevated, whilst it U curved towards the point, thus trading to 

 Saxicola. Cuvier finishes by observing that there are various genera 

 or sub-genera which come very near to certain link* of the aerie* of 

 Flycatchers, though they much surpass those birds in (in, such as 

 the Bald Tyrants (OymnocepHaliu, Geoff.), and Cepkaloptena (Ueoff.). 



[COBACIXA.] 



M. Temminck place* hia genus Qobe-Moucha (Mutcicapa, Linn.) 

 between Laniiu (Linn.) and Turdut (Linn.). 



M. Vieillot places the Myothores, or Flycatchers, between the 

 ( 'lu'lidous (Swallows and Goatsuckers) and the Collurions (Butcher- 

 Birds). 



Mr. Vigors, at the commencement of the section treating of the 

 order Drntirojtret, observes that the depressed bill and insect-food of 

 the Todiiltr introduce us at once to the Mutcicapulce, with which they 

 are immediately connected by the getms Platyrhynchui, Desm. The 

 species that compose the latter group were, he remarks, originally 

 included in the genus Todut, aud were separated from it only on 

 account of the comparative strength of their legs. " The whole of 

 the Mutcicapida, indeed," continues Mr. Vigors, " with which family 

 Platyrhynchut is now united, have a decided affinity to the last tribe, 

 or the birds which feed upon the wing, in their broad-based bills, the 

 vibrissao that surround them, and their similar habits of darting upon 

 their prey while on the wing. Separated from them chiefly by the 

 strength and more perfect structure of the leg and foot, they form 

 the extreme of the succeeding tribe, in which they are numbered in 

 consequence of these distinguishing characters. The line of affinity 

 between the two tribes may thus be assumed as established." Mr. 

 Vigors then states that the families composing the order Dentirottret 

 appear to succeed each other as follows : Mtucicajnda ; Laniada ; 

 Merulida ; Sylriadir ; Piprida. These families are thus grouped by 

 him in their typical disposition : 



ttostris fortioribus 



Normal Group. 



Aberrant Group. 



Roatris debilioribus 



J Laniada, 

 \Mervlidce. 



f Syhiada. 

 < Pipridte. 

 |_ Afuscicapider. 



He further remarks that the Mutcicapida contain a multitude of 

 species, diffused over every quarter of the globe, and differing in 

 many points of generic distinction ; but hitherto so ill-defined, ami 

 so unsatisfactorily grouped, that any attempt to trace them in detail 

 through their affinities in their present confusion would be hopeless. 

 They are all however, he adds, well united together by the essential 

 characters which distinguish the type of the group the notched, 

 depraved, and angular bill, and the strong hairs or vibrissas that sur- 

 round its base. In these characters, as well as in their manners, 

 they partially correspond with the Laniada, from the earlier families 

 of which they chiefly differ in their inferior power and robust- 

 ness. Mr. Vigors then enters among the Lantadte by the genus 

 Tyrannut, Cuv., which, in his opinion, unites them with the Mutci- 

 capida, in which family indeed that genua has generally been classed, 

 anil from which he would separate it, chiefly on account of the 

 strength of the bill, wherein the character of a Shrike is more con- 

 spicuous thau that of a Flycatcher. 



M. Lesson make* the Mutcicapida; consist of the genera Tyrannut, 

 Monacha, Eurylaimut, Platyrliynchut, Todut, Myiayra, Muicicapa, 

 Altclrvrut, Drymophila, Formicirora, Khipidura, Seitura, Ptopkodet, 

 and Knicurut. 



Mr. Swuinson (' Classification of Birds ') is of opinion that the 

 Water-Chats (Plwncoliiue) seem to connect the Tyrant Shrikes with 

 the Flycatching Family, or Mutcicapid<r, the most insectivorous of the 

 DaUirottret; a group, he remarks, hardly leas numerous than that of 

 the Warblers, and composed, like them, almost entirely of small birds. 

 Both families, he continues, are insectivorous, that is, habitual 

 devourers of insects; but very many of the warblers (even in the 

 more typical genera) feed also upon fruits, of which the robin, the 

 blackcap, and the white-throat are notable examples. " The Flycatchers 

 however," adds Mr. Swainson, "properly so called, eem to be strictly 

 and exclusively insectivorous, or, at least, it has not yet been ascer- 

 tained that any of the species composing the typical group Mtucicapida 

 ever partake of fruit*. This peculiarity of diet, independent of many 

 others, separates them from the warblers on one side, and from the 

 Ampelidir, or Chatterer*, on the other; while another i* to be found 

 in the mod* or manner of their feeding. The warblers fly about, 

 hunting down their prey, searching among tree*, and roaming from 

 place to place after their favourite food ; hence they become ambulating 

 flycatchers, and their feet are consequently large and strong in com- 

 parison to the size of their bodies. We need only look to the gold- 

 crested and wood warblers a* exemplifications of this remark, even 



