ee 
TYRANT FLYCATCHER, OR KING BIRD. 141 
northern districts. The epithet Tyrant, which is generally applied to 
him by naturalists, 1 am not altogether so well satisfied with; some, 
however, may think the two terms pretty nearly synonymous. 
form, Tyrannince, represented by Tyrannus. Of the former, we have already seen 
an example at page 49. ‘I'hese are comparatively few ; the great bulk of that form 
being confined to Africa and the warmer parts of Asia and India; and, with the 
latter, we enter into the great mass of American Flycatchers, ranging over both 
the continents, particularly the southern. 
“Tropical America,” Mr. Swainson remarks, “ swarms with the Tyrannine, so 
much so, that several individuals, of three or four species, may be seen in the sur- 
rounding trees at the same moment, watching for passing insects; each, however, 
looks out for ils own particular prey, and does not interfere with such as appear 
destined by Nature for its stronger and less feeble associates. It is only towards 
the termination of the rainy season, when myriads of the Termites and’ Formice 
emerge from the earth in their winged state, that the whole family of Tyrants, of 
all sizes and species, commence a regular and simultancous attack upon the thou- 
sands which then spring from the ground.” 
From their long-aceepted name we have some idea of their manners. They 
possess extensive powers of locomotion, to enable them to secure a prey at once 
active and vigilant ; and their long and sharp wings are beautifully formed for 
quick and rapid flight.*| The tail, next in importance as a locomotive organ, is 
also generally of a form joining the greatest advantages, — that of a forked shape; 
in some with the exterior feathers extending to a considerable length, while, in 
others, certainly only slightly divaricating, or nearly square; but never, as among 
the Thamnopluline, or Bus Shrikes, of a graduated or rounded form, where the 
individuals seek their prey by stealth and rowling, and require no great extent of 
flight ; on the other hand, those organs of less utility for securing the means of sus- 
tenance, are of much inferior strength and power. The accessory members for 
seizing their insect prey are, in like manner, adapted to their other powers ; the 
bill, though of considerable strength, is flattened ; the rictus being ample, and fur- 
nished with bristles. The genus Tyrannus, however, does not entirely feed on 
insects when on wing, like the smaller T'yrannulce, but, as shown by Mr. Swainson, 
will also feed on small fish and aquatic insects ; and, if this fact be united with the 
weak formation of the tarsi, and, in several species, having the toes united at the 
base, there will be an evident connection between this group and the Fissirostres. 
That gentleman, in the second volume of the Northern Zoology, relates a fact 
from his journal when resident in Brazil, most beautifully illustrative of this affinity, 
and shows the value of attending to all circumstances relative to the habits of in- 
dividuals, which, though, like the present, of no importance alone, will, when taken 
in connection with other views, be of the very utmost consequence. “ April 7, 1817. 
Sitting in the house this morning, I suddenly heard a splash in the lake close to the 
window ; on looking out, I saw a common Gray-breasted Tyrant (Tyrannus cru- 
delis) perched upon a dead branch hanging over the water, plunging and drying 
itself, Intent upon watching this bird, I saw it, within a quarter of an hour, dive 
into the lake two successive times, after some small fish or aquatic insects, precisely 
like a Kingfisher ; this action was done with amazing celerity, and it then took its 
former station to plume and dry its feathers.” Here we have exactly the habits of 
the Kingfisher ; and I believe a contrariety of manner, equally worthy of remark, 
is observed among some of the Dacelones, frequenting woods, and darting by sur- 
prise on the larger insects. Both tribes have another similarity in their economy, 
and delight to sit motionless, either watching their prey, or pluming and resting on 
the extremity or top of some dead branch, pale, or peaked rock. ~ With regard to 
the Tyrant’s being not only carnivorous, but preying also on the weaker reptiles, 
we have the authority of Azara, who mentions the common Tyrannus sulphuratus, 
or Bentivo of Brazil, as “S’approchent des animaux morts pour Yemporter des 
debris et des petits morceaux de chair que Jaissent les Caracaras.” And Mr. 
Swainson (North. Zool. ii. 133) has bimsall taken from the stomach of this species 
* In many species the quills become suddenly emarginited at the tips. This also occurs 
in the sub-genera Miloulus and Negeta, both much allied, and possessing great powers of 
flight. 
