119. 
368. 
432 SYSTEMATIC SYNOPSIS. —PASSERES — CLAMATORES. 
smaller than ¢@, with the tail commonly less developed. Young: Similar ; primary not 
abruptly emarginate; tail undeveloped; no crown-spot, and little or no red. Lower Missis- 
sippi valley and Texas; usually N. to Indian Terri- 
tory and Kansas, even 8. W. Missouri; accidental in 
New Jersey and New England! A most elegant, 
graceful, and showy bird, abundant in Texas, con- 
spicuous by the display it nakes in opening and clos- 
ing the tail, like scissor-blades; very active, dashing 
and noisy, like a king-bird, — all the large flycatchers 
sharing this same impetuous, irritable disposition. 
Nesting like the king-bird’s; eggs 4-5, white, boldly 
blotched with reddish on the surface, and lilac shell- 
spots; laid in May. 
TYRANNUS. (Lat. tyrannus, a tyrant.) Kixe Fiy- 
CATCHERS. ‘Tail moderate in size and shape, rather 
shorter than wing, even or little rounded, emarginate 
or lightly forked. Wings long, pointed by the 2d-3d 
quills, 1st and 4th little if any shorter, 5th and rest 
rapidly graduated. Several outer primaries abruptly 
emarginate or sinuate-natrowed on inner webs towards 
end. Bill stout, flattish, fully bristled, notched, and 
hooked (fig. 278). Feet small and weak, the tarsus 
with scales obviously lapping around. Size large: 
length 8 inches or more; wing over 4. Sexes alike ; 
@ sharing the flaming crown-patch ; primaries less or 
not emarginate? Young lacking the crown-spot and 
attenuation of primaries. Nest bulky, on a bough, ! 
compactly woven and felted. Eggs white, boldly | Fic. 282. -— Swallow-tailed Flycatcher. 
marked with oval or tear-shaped spots of reddish- beppard del. Nichols se.) 
brown. Contains numerous species, 5 of N. Am., which have been divided into several named 
subgenera, but are closely interrelated through various exotic species. They are the ‘ king- 
birds” proper. 
Analysis of Species. 
No olive nor decided yellow; blackish and whitish. 
Only two primaries obviously emarginate. Tail about even, sibeiiaaiciel white-tipped. Bill small, 
under 1.00. (Tyrannus). . . . . carolinensis 368 
Five or six primaries emarginate. "Tail emarginate, merely lighter at end, “Bin dig, 1.00 long. (Afelit- 
tarchus). . . . » dominicensis 369 
Olivaceous, with pure yellow on belly, ashy on ea, Bill siedernbe. eae. 
Tail blackish, merely emarginate; wings dark brown. 
Several outer primaries gradually attenuate for a long distance. Outer web of outer tail-feather 
white . +. + verticalis 370 
Several outer primaries abewptiy curiseinabe foe a short aictanen. Outer web of outer tail-feather 
merely whitish-edged aha rae We soe ee + . vociferans 871 
Tail dark brown, like the wings, ebylously, forked 
Several outer primaries abruptly emarginate fora short distance... .... couchi 372 
T. carolinen’sis, (Of Carolina. Fig. 283.) Kine-pirp. Brr-martin. ¢9, adult: 
No olive nor decided yellow. Only two outer primarics obviously emarginate (fig. 279, b). 
Tail nearly even —if anything a little rounded. Blackish-ash, still darker or quite black on 
head, crown with a flaming spot. Below, pure white, the breast shaded with plumbeous. 
Wings dusky, with much whitish edging. Tail black, broadly and sharply tipped with 
white, the outer feather sometimes edged with the same. Bill and feet black. Young: 
Lacking emargination of the primaries, and no crown-spot; very young birds show rufous 
