Order II. PASSERES. 



Tribe III. Dentirostres. 



Family III. Muscicapimi. 



The second Subfamily, 



ALECTRURIN.E, or Alectrures, 



have the Bill of various lengths, broad at the base, and rather depressed, with the culmen sloping and 

 rounded ; the sides gradually compressed to the tip, which is emarginated ; the gonys long and slightly 

 ascending; the Nostrils basal, rounded, and exposed : the Wings more or less long : the Tail of various 

 lengths and forms : the Tarsi more or less long, and slender : the Toes usually moderate, and armed 

 with long, acute, curved claws. 



T.enioptera Pr. Bonap.* 



Bill rather short, slightly depressed, and broad at the base, with the culmen straight towards the 

 tip, which is suddenly curved and emarginated ; the sides compressed, and the gape furnished with short 

 weak bristles ; the gonys long and slightly ascending ; the nostrils lateral, and placed in a short mem- 

 branous groove, with the opening rounded and exposed. Wings long and pointed ; with the first two 

 quills sometimes as long as the third, which is usually the longest. Tail long, broad, and nearly even. 

 Tarsi rather longer than the middle toe, strong, and covered with broad transverse scales. Toes 

 moderate ; the outer toe rather longer than the inner, and united at the base ; the hind toe long ; the 

 claws long, compressed, and very acute. 



The species that compose this genus are peculiar to South America, where they are usually observed perched 

 silently on the tops of small bushes, tall plants, or on the low branches of trees, from whence they watch the approach 

 of an insect, after which they dart, and having captured it, return to another place. They are sometimes observed 

 hunting the ground for the same kind of food, especially for Coleoptera, as well as for small seeds. The nest is 

 coarsely put together in the midst of a bush. 



1. T. nengeta (Linn.) Edwards's Birds, pi. 318. ? — Tyrannus 

 pepoaza Vieill. Azara, No. 201. ; Muscicapa polyglotta Spix, Av. 

 Bras. t. 24., Swains. Nat. Libr. x. Flyc. pi. 8. ; M. ttenioptera Pr. 

 Bonap. ; Tyrannus cinereus Vieill. 



2. T. coronata (Vieill.) Encyc. Meth. p. 855., Azara, No. 202. 



— Muscicapa vittigera Licht. 



3. T. dominicana (Vieill.) Ency. Meth. p. 856., Azara, No. 203. 



— Fluvicola Azarae Gould, Voy. of Beagle, Birds, p. 53. pi. x. 



4. T. irupero (Vieill.) Ency. Me'th. p. 856., Azara, No. 204 



Muscicapa mcesta Licht. 



5. T. nivea (Spix), Av. Bras. t. 29- f. 1- 



6. T. mriegata (D'Orb. & Lafr.) Syn. Av. p. ., Voy. dans 

 l'Amer. Mer. Ois. t. 3Q. f. 2., Voy. of Beagle, Birds, pi. xi. 



7. T. pyrope (Kittl.) Vog. von Chili, t. 10. 



8. T. velata (Licht.) Cat. Dupl. Berl. Mus. p. 54., Spix, Av. 

 Bras. t. 22. 



9. T. murina (D'Orb. & Lafr.) Syn. Av. p. 63. 



10. T. ? atricapilla (Vieill.) Encyc. Meth. p. 856., Azara, No. 

 206. 



* The Prince of Canino established this genus in 1825. Xolmis (1826) of M. Boie, Nengetus (1827) of Mr. Swainson, Orsipus (1835) 

 and Blechropus (1837) of Mr. Swainson are synonymous with the name employed. 



