MYIADKSTINiE. 



411 



6,463.) IrU flre red. 



Sdbfamilt MYIADESTIN^. 



As explained on page 408, 1 am decidedly of opinion that, notwith- 

 standing a close resemblance in general appearance, Myiadentes 

 and Cichlopsis should be removed from their usual association 

 with Ptilogonys, among Ampelidse, to or at least very near the 

 Tardulee, and form a subfamily with Platycichla (p. 32). The 

 latter genus is so closely related to Cichlopi^is as almost to be the 

 same: Platycichla forniiiig the link with Turdinse through Pla- 

 nesticus, while such species as Myiadestes unicolor show the affini- 

 ties of Cichlopsis to Myiadestes. 



]n the original description of Cichlopsis, Cabanis gives scutcllate 

 tarsi as u character. In the specimen before nie of C. leucogonys, 

 belonging to Dr. Sclater, one tarsus is entirely smooth, except the 

 one or two divisions at lower end (as usual in Turdidse), while the 

 other exhibits a faint indication of an additional division. Through 

 the somewhat transparent epidermis may be s«en faint transverse 

 lines which may represent such division, but do not come to the 

 surface, and arc precisely such as occur among other booted forms. 

 This tendency to occasional abnormal scutellation is a partial 

 monstrosity, or it may be a condition of immaturity, as I have 

 observed in Myiadestes townsendii. 



The genera of Myiadestinne may be characterized as fcdlows, 

 although I cannot make the diagnoses very trenchant, and must 

 refer to the more elaborate descriptions and comparisons for com- 

 litete details : — 



Myiadestes. Occipital feathers fall and soft. Plnmage rather loose. Bill 

 weak, much depressed. Commissure nearly straight. Hind toe longer 

 tlian inner lateral. Toes deeply cleft. Closed wing externally with an 

 exposed light hand across the hase of the quills, and another nearer the 

 end, separated by a darker one. Tail somewhat graduated on tlie sides. 



Cichlopsis. Occipital feathers short and close. Plumage more compact. 

 Win,, without any external marking. Commissure nearly straight. Bill 

 27 June, 1806. 



