408 



NUKTH AMKK1(,'AN lURDS. 



(lescrilHiS it as a shy, wild, and restless bird, with a superb sonj?, powerful 

 and finely modulated. I)r. Cuues appeal's to think that this si)eeics has but 

 little affinity with the forms with which it is usually «,'rouped. 



Section MYIADESTE>E. 



Thar. Tarsus slender, longer than middle toe and claw ; undivided as in Tur- 

 didce. Toes deeply cleft. Wings inore pointed ; seeond (luill inueh longer than seconda- 

 ries, Lat«Mal tail-leathers euneate, or narrowing from base towards tip; generally Avhilish 

 at end of imier welt. Quills with their extrem*; bases, especially of imier webs, Initry yel- 

 low, showing a light patch inside. Head not crested, though the feathers sometimes full. 

 In the young all the feathers with light roundetl spots. Pre-eminent as melodious singers. 



But a sin<,de genus of this j^roup belonj^^s to the United States, although 

 two others {CichlojistH and Pluti/rirhla !') occur in South America. As already 

 stated, the affinities of Mniiulfstccc are much closest to I'urdidcc^ and this 

 would seem the proper family for it. 



Gexus M7IADESTES, Swaixsox. 



Mlliodestts, Swainson, Jard. Nat. Library, Xlll. Flycatt;hers, " 1838," 132. (Type, M. 

 genihurbis, Sw.) 



Gex. Cfiar. Occipital feathers full .and soft. Plumage rather loose. Bill weak, much 

 depressed. Commissure nearly straight. Hind toe longer than innt^r lateral. Toes deeply 



Mniddfstes toirnser*di. 



cleft. Closed wing externally with an exposed light banil across the base of the quills, 

 and another nearer the end, separated by a darker one. Tail somewhat graduated on the 

 sides. 



Of the ten or more described s])ecies of this genus, only one belongs to 



