TYRANNID.E — THE FLYCATCHKRS. 397 



fJraudo, not far from tlio border of tlio United Status, Init as tliey have not 

 yot lieen detected witliin our limits, we have conchided to omit them in tlie 

 l)resent work. 



The hird fauna of Anu^rica may he said to liave one of its cliief features 

 in tlie great number and variety of its Ti/rtinniihv, the family being strictly 

 a Xew World one. Nearly every ])ossible diversity of form is e.vhibited by 

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

 mon I!ol)in t( that of the Kinglet, our smallest bird with exception of the 

 Humming-riird. Of the nunun'ous subfamilies, however, only one the 

 Ti/raiiiii)i(v Y)vopcr, belongs to Xorth America, and will be readily distin- 

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

 head of this article, and which, as drawn up, apply rather to the subfamily 

 than to the I'l/ranniilw generally. 



The Nortli American species of the Tiirannincr. may, for our present 

 purposes, be divided into Ttjratmi and TyrannuU. The former are large, 

 generally with brigiit color, iiointed wings, with attenuated 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 : — 



TYRAKNI. gizc laijro ; colors gpnorally brilliant.; crown with a bri<rlit]y 

 coloroil <Mcst, usually concoalcil ; outer primaries aliruplly contracted or attenu- 

 ated near the tip; upper scales of tarsus usually continuing round on the outside 

 and behind. Nest in trees, very Imlky, containin-i; much downy material; eggs 

 white or i)inl<ish, with ovate dots of rich brown, of various shades. 



Milvulus. Tail excessively forked and lengthened ; more than twice 

 as Inng as the wings. 



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

 the wings. 

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

 any colored crest concealed l)y the tips of the feathers; primaries normal; seules 

 of the upper part of the tarsus usually contiiming oidy 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 

 middle. 



Myiarchus. Tarsus c(pial to the middle toe, which is decidedly longer 

 than the hinder one. Tail even or roinidcd. Throat pale asli, rest^of 

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

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

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

 tangled lines and streaks of dark brown, the general elTect salmon-color. 

 Sayornis. Tarsus rather longer than the middle toe, whii'h is scarcely 

 longer than the hind toe. Tail .slightly forked. Bill very narrow. No 

 light orbital ;ing, 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 ; eggs pure white, innnaculato, 

 or with very minute sparse dots near larger end. 

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

 Tarsus shorter than the middle toe. 



