CK\<- 



TYRAXNID.E — THE FLYCATCIII:RS. 30 



(Iraiide, not far from the border of the United States, hut as they have not 

 vet heen detected within our limits, we have concluded to omit them in tlie 

 present work. 



The bird fauna of America mav he said t(» have one of its chief features 

 in tlie great nund)er and variety of its Ti/nauiidir, the family being strictly 

 a New Worhl one. Nearly every ])ossible diversity of form is exhibited by 

 different members ; the size, however, usually varying from that of our com- 

 mon liobin t( ^Jiat of the Kinglet, our smallest bird with exception of the 

 Humming-]^»ird. Of the numerous subfamilies, however, only one, the 

 Ttfranninw proper, belongs to North America, and will be readily distin- 

 guished from other of our land birds by the family characters given at the 

 h(»ad of this article, and which, as drawn up, ajjply rather to the subfaniily 

 than to tlie 7\//raiiniihv generally. 



The North American species of the Ti/rannincr may, for our present 

 purjuDses, be divided into Ttjranui and Tyraniudi The former are large, 

 generally with bright color, pointed wings, with atteiniated primaries and a 

 colored crest in the middle of the crown. The others are plainer, smaller, 

 without colored crest ; the primaries not attenuated. 



The genera of our Flycatchers may be arranged as follows : — 



TTRANNL Size larcfe; colors conerally brilliant; crown with a briprhtly 

 colortMl crest, usually concealed ; outer primaries abruptly contracted or attenu- 

 ate, near the tip; upper scales of tarsus usually continuiui; round on the outside 

 and behind. Nest in trees, very bulky, containinir much downy material; ej^gs 

 white or pinkish, with ovate dots of rich brown, of various shades. 



Milvulus. Tail excessivelv forked and lenj^thened : more than twice 



as louLT as the wintrs. 



Tyrannus. Tail moderate ; nearly even or slightly forked ; less than 



the winirs. 

 TyRANNULI. Size generally small ; colors usually plain ; crown without 

 any colored crest concealed l)y the tips of the feathers ; primaries nornuil ; scides 

 of the upper part of the tarsus usually continuing only to the middle of the 

 outer face, and a second series opposite to them behind. 



1. Tail lengthened ; about equal to the wings, which reach scarcely to its 

 midillt'. 



Myiarchus. Tarsus equal to the middle toe, which is decidedly longer 

 than the hinder one. Tail even or rounded. Throat pale ash, rest of 

 lower parts yellow generally, the primaries edged with rufous, and 

 iinier webs of tail-feathers with more or less of the same color. Nest 

 in a cavity of a tree, of loose material ; eggs whitish, with intricate 

 taugletl lines and streaks of dark brown, the general effect salmon-color. 

 Sayornis. Tarsus rather longer than the middle toe, which is scarcely 

 longer than the hind toe. Tail slightly forked. l>ill very narrow. No 

 light orbital ring, nor distinct bands on wings ; both mandibles black. 

 Nest attached to rocks or parts of buildings, very compact and bulky, 

 containing much mud in its composition ; c^tf^?- pure white, innnaculate, 

 or with very minute sparse dots near larger end. 



2. Tail decidedly shorter than the wings, which reach beyond it.s middle. 

 Tarsus shorter than the middle toe. 



