MYIOTHERIN^E. 95 



phagus wide at the commencement, rapidly contracting, 

 and then of moderate width ; stomach roundish or broadly 

 elliptical, moderately compressed, muscular, with the late- 

 ral muscles of moderate size, the epithelium thin, dense, 

 longitudinally rugous ; intestine short, rather wide ; cceca 

 minute ; rectum very short, with an oblong or pyriform 

 dilatation. Trachea considerably flattened, slightly taper- 

 ing ; the inferior larynx with four pairs of muscles, which 

 are generally blended into a knob-like mass on each side. 

 Eyes of moderate size. Nostrils very small, elliptical or 

 roundish, in the anterior part of the broad nasal mem- 

 brane, which is feathered. External aperture of ear very 

 large, elliptical. Legs very small ; tarsus very short, 

 slender, moderately compressed, with seven, often very 

 broad, anterior scutella ; toes small, much compressed ; 

 the first of moderate length, not much shorter than the 

 third, the second and fourth equal, the third and fourth 

 united at the base, all scutellate ; claws long, slender, 

 arched, compressed, laterally grooved, acute. Plumage 

 generally soft and blended. About six strong bristles on 

 each side at the base of the upper mandible, and several 

 smaller on the nasal membrane; wings of moderate length, 

 broad, rounded ; tail of twelve feathers, the wings and 

 tail very much in form. 



The peculiar form of the bill, with the strong bristles 

 at its base, and the small size of the feet, afford the most 

 prominent characters of this family. The species of which 

 it is composed reside in woods and thickets, among the 

 twigs and foliage of which they search for their insect 

 food, seldom alighting on the ground. Very frequently 

 they take a station on a twig, wall, or stone, from whence 

 they sally forth after passing insects. The larger species 

 also prey upon smaller birds, and in their habits resemble 

 the Shrikes, while the smaller are allied to the Sylviiriae 

 and Motacillinse. They are numerous in the warmer 

 regions of both continents, and those which breed in the 



