616 The Sparrow-like Birds 



and North America, except the extreme Arctic regions. They are in general 

 birds of small size, few of them exceeding a length of ten inches, and very many 

 falling much below this. In the typical forms the bill is broad, triangular, 

 abruptly decurved, and notched at the tip, and provided along the gape with 

 long bristles, but in other groups of species the bill varies in length and stoutness 

 as well as the degree to which it is provided with bristles. The tarsi are generally 

 short and always exaspidean, that is, enveloped by a series of large scales, which 

 meet near the posterior edge of the inner side, and if separated the space is very 

 narrow and occupied by naked skin or by a row of small scales. The wings 

 are variable in shape, but have the outermost of the ten primaries normal and 

 always more than three fourths the length of the next; the outer primaries are 

 sometimes attenuated near the tip. The tail, which normally consists of twelve, 

 but sometimes of only ten, feathers, is also very variable in shape, ranging from 

 square to graduated and deeply forked. 



The Tyrant-birds are mainly insectivorous, performing the same functions 

 in the economy of nature as the Flycatchers of the Old World, but distinguished 

 from them, as well as from other flycatching oscinine birds, by the ten primaries 

 and the peculiar arrangement of the scales of the tarsus, but more especially 

 by the different structure of the organs of voice. As regards coloration, they 

 are for the most part rather dull plumaged birds, of mostly olive hues, frequently 

 relieved by yellow or black, although there are some notable exceptions in which 

 brilliant scarlet plays an important role. On the ground of minor structural 

 differences, mostly superficial, as well as supposed divergences in habit and 

 temperament, the Tyrant-birds have been divided into four so-called subfamilies 

 by Dr. Sclater, but these artificial groups are not at all well defined, and the 

 species are often so similar as to be discriminated with great difficulty. The 

 numbers of this family are so great, and their habits so generally uniform for 

 large groups of genera and species, that it will be necessary to select only a few 

 examples for mention or extended treatment. 



Tyrants. In the first of Dr. Sclater's groups (Taniopterince), the members 

 of which are mostly confined to South America south of Panama, the colors are 

 mainly black, gray, brown, and white. They have strong ambulatorial feet and 

 spend much time on or near the ground, frequenting especially the open parts 

 of wooded districts, pampas, river sides, and sometimes marshes, but rarely or 

 never the forests. In the typical genus (T&nioptera), the nine species of which 

 range principally from southeastern Brazil to Patagonia, the colors are mainly 

 gray or white, relieved with black or gray and often with brownish markings. 

 They are birds of lively disposition, inhabiting the great pampas region, often 

 going in attendance on flocks of Plovers, which they somewhat resemble at a dis- 

 tance. Of the six species found in Argentina, Mr. Hudson says the Pepoaza 

 Tyrant ( T. nengeta) is one of the most common, " being a swift, active, graceful 

 bird, with strong, straight beak, hooked at the point, and a broad tail four inches 

 long, the total length being nine inches. . . . Their legs are long and they run 

 on the ground like a Chocolate Tyrant, feeding to some extent in the same man- 

 ner, that is, on the ground, but they also occasionally pursue and capture insects 



