TYRANT FLYCATCHERS. 9 
grown forests of the interior the traveller can scarcely proceed five paces 
without treading upon their nests. To keep these myriads within due limits, 
a wise Providence has called into existence the Ant Thrushes, and has given 
to them this particular food. Both are proportionate in their geographical 
range, for beyond the tropical latitude the ants suddenly decrease, and their 
enemies, the Ant Thrushes, totally disappear. As a general distinc- 
tion by which this family may be known from the Bush Shrikes, we may 
mention the difference in the feet, the structure of one being adapted for 
walking, while that of the other is more suited for perching. The Ant 
Thrushes are very locally distributed; for, although the group is tropical, 
we frequently found that a particular species, very common in one forest, 
was replaced in another by a second; while a third locality, in the same 
district, would present us with still another kind, different from those we had 
previously found. Cayenne and Surinam, in like manner, furnish us with 
many species totally unknown in the forests of Brazil.” 
Fammy Tyrannip®. Tyrant FLycarcHers. 
This family is divided into two groups, which are distinguished as fol- 
lows : — 
large and thick; wider than high at base... 2... 2... +. TYRANNINE. 
TYRANNID_E, Bill. « « moderate; not wider than high. .......6. 2 @ 6 2 « KLUVICOLINE, 
The Fluvicoline, or Waterchats, as stated by Mr. Swainson, are, with 
the exception of one genus, entirely restricted to the warm latitudes of South 
America, where they seem to represent the Stonechats and the Wagtails of 
the Old World. - “They are,” says this author, “strictly ambulating Fly- 
catchers, and constitute the rasorial division of this family. The legs are 
consequently very long, and formed especially for walking; the toes are 
also long, quite divided to their base, and furnished with long, slightly- 
curved claws. This structure enables these birds to run with great celerity ; 
and they are generally seen on the sides of streams and rivers, feeding on 
flying insects, which resort to such situations; for they never hunt among 
trees, and rarely perch, —such, at least, are the manners of the typical 
species.” 
Mr. Swainson is of the opinion that these birds seem to connect the Ty- 
rant Shrikes with the Flyeatchers, which last birds constitute a group hardly 
less numerous than that of the Warblers, and composed, like them, almost 
entirely of small birds. 
Of the Tyrannine, or Tyrant Flyeatchers, there are many species con- 
tained in some seven genera. They are restricted to the American continent, 
and many of them are well known, — such as the King Bird, Fork-tailed 
Flycatcher, &c. 
