S94 Mr. Vigors's Sketches in Ornithology. 



V. Fam. HALCYONiDiE. [Gen. Alcedo, Linn.] 



Alcedo. Linn. [Ispida. Briss.^ — Halcyon. Swains. — Da- 

 celo. Leach. — Tanysiptera. — Galbula. Briss. — Capito. 

 Fieill. ? — Monasa. Vieill. ? 



Tribus. II. Dentirostres. Cuv. 



I. Fam. Muscicapid^.* [Gen. Muscicapa. Linn.] 



Platyrhynchus. Desm. — Muscicapa. Auct. — Muscipeta. Cuv. 

 — Onychorhynchus. Fisch. — Vireo. Fieill. ? — Icteria. 

 Vieill.? 



II. Fam. Laniadje. [Gen. Lanius. Linn.] 



* Subfam. Tyrannina. Swains. 



Tyrannus. Cuv. — Tityra.f Fieill. [Psaris. Cuv."] — Guber- 



netes. Such. 

 ** Subfam. Dicrurina. Swains. 

 Artamus. Fieill. [Ocypterus. Cuv.'} — Dicrurus. Fieill. 



[Edolius. Cuv.} — Trichophorus. Temm.? — Irena. Horsf. 



* Little has been done to subdivide and put in order this extensive family. 

 The genera enumerated above, include but a small portion of the forms that 

 may be distinguished in it. We have at least four very distinct New Holland 

 groups now about to be characterized ; and different modifications of form are 

 equally apparent among the groups of America and the Old World. I am not 

 certain that the genera of M. Vieillot, marked above with a note of doubt, are 

 referable to this family ; not having seen the species which he gives as types. 



t I find much difficulty in determining the priority of the modern generick 

 names among the Continental Ornithologists. If we were to judge only by the 

 standard works of the chief systematick writers, such as the " Prodromus" of 

 M. llliger, the " Analyse" of M. Vieillot, the " Regne Animal" ofM. Cuvier, 

 and the '• Manuel" of M. Temminck, the task would be easy. These works 

 were respectively published in the years 1811 — 1816 — 1817 — 1820; and the 

 priority of each name might be determined accordingly. But many of the 

 genera of these naturalists have been described, as I understand, in works of 

 less publicity, and in periodical journals, which are not within the reach of the 

 British student; most of our publick Libraries being lamentably deficient in 

 books of Natural History, and particularly in the recent continental publi- 

 cations. Not having it in my power to determine the exact priority of name 

 in every instance, I date each name as it appeared in the above-mentioned 

 standard works. 



