10 DIVISION I. VERTEBRAL ANIMALS.—CLASS II. AVES. 
Our limits will not permit an extended review of this group. “The Water- 
chats” (FVuvicolinw), says Mr. Swainson, “which seem to connect the 
Tyrant Shrikes to the fly-catching family, or the Musctcapide, like very 
many other tribes, have their plumage black and white, variously blended, 
but matbolit any mixture of green. The lesser Tyrants (Tyrannul@), on 
the contrary, are all of an olive-colored plumage ; that color, in short, 
which is most adapted for concealment among foliage, and therefore suited 
to their mode of life. Between these, however, we find some curious birds, 
which borrow the habits of both groups. The species, called by Latham 
White-headed Tody, for instance, is black and white; its general resort is 
on the sides of marshes, where it perches upon the reeds, and darts on pass- 
ing insects in the same manner as a truc Tyrant Shrike. The lesser Tyrants 
(Tyrannule) are spread over the whole of America, where they represent 
the true Flycatcher (.Wuseteapa) of the Old World; both have nearly the 
smne manners; and so closely do they resemble each other, that they can 
only be distinguished by their feet, tail, and wings. From these we may 
pass to the true or greater Tyrants by a little sub-generic group (Mleulus), 
having very long forked tails. The habits of the typical Tyrants intimately 
resemble those of the lesser, but they feed upon larger insects more suited 
to their own size: some imitate the Kingfishers, by diving in the water ; 
and they will even prey upon small reptiles. The species, which are numer- 
ous, swarm in tropical America, where they are everywhere seen perched 
upon naked branches, and uttering at short intervals a sharp and monotonous 
ery. The Tyrants are bold and quarrelsome birds, particularly during the 
season of incubation; the male will not then suffer any birds to come near 
its nest, and becomes so infuriated against such unconscious intruders, that 
it will attack both hawks and eagles, with a determination not to be resisted, 
until they are fairly driven away. 
Famity Piaryryncnuip®. Tue Broap BItts. 
The birds composing this group have occupied uncertain and varied posi- 
tions in the writings of various authors. Most ornithologists have placed 
them in the Museicapide. 
The following remarks explain somewhat the causes for their being placed 
in this position : — 
“Mr. Vigors, at the commencement of the section treating of the order 
Dentirostres, observes that the depressed bill and insect-food of the Tur- 
did@ introduce us at onee to the Muscicapide, with which they are imme- 
diately connected by the genus Platyrynchus. The species that com- 
pose the latter group (Platyrynchus) were separated from it only on account 
of the comparative strength of their legs. The whole of the Muscicapide, 
