420 AMERICAN SWIFT. 



the toes are much shortened, and the third little longer than the se- 

 cond and fourth, the number of phalanges is the same as in other hirds, 

 the first toe having two, the second three, the third four, the fourth 

 five. Of these phalanges the one next the last remains nearly of the 

 usual size, but the rest are extremely abbreviated. The form of the 

 foot thus differs essentially from that of the Swallows, in which the 

 middle toe is much longer than the lateral, and the hind toe proportion- 

 ally larger. It bears a great resemblance to that of the Humming Birds, 

 which on the other hand diflPer greatly in the structure of the mouth. 

 The sternum differs from that of the Swallows in having the crest ex- 

 tremely elevated at its anterior part, being 5^ twelfths in height, and 

 the posterior margin without notches ; whereas in the Swallows there 

 is on each side a deep notch similar to that of the Flycatchers and 

 Warblers. The furcula is also much shorter and wider. 



In another specimen there are no inferior laryngeal muscles, nor coeca. 



These circumstances exhibit curious anomalies in a genus so inti- 

 mately allied in form and habits to the Swallows. They shew that 

 Cypselus is intermediate in some respects between these birds and the 

 Goatsuckers. In the form of the wing, and in the elevation of the 

 crest of the sternum, it closely resembles the Humming-birds ; from 

 which, on the other hand, it differs as widely in the structure of the 

 mouth, tongue, and bill. They also shew that until the interior of birds 

 has been studied, it is in vain to think that any classification can be 

 constructed so as to exhibit their real affinities, and that the notions of 

 those who reject anatomy must often prove very absurd. 



TYRANT FLYCATCHER. 



MuscicAPA Tyrannus, Briss. 



PLATE LXXIX. Vol. I. p. 403. 



This bold Flycatcher is not satisfied with ranging throughout the 

 United States, but extends its migrations across the continent to the 

 Columbia River, and, according to Dr Richardson, northward as far 

 as the 57th parallel, where it breeds, arriving in May, and departing in 

 the beginning of September. I have found it breeding in the Texas, 

 on the one hand, in Labrador on the other, and in all interA^ening dis- 



