TYRANKtNJE. 



gape furnished with long bristles ; the nostrils basal, with the opening small, rounded, and partly covered 

 by bristles. Wings rather long ; with the second, third, and sometimes fourth and fifth quills equal and 

 longest, with the tips of all more or less suddenly sinuated and pointed. Tail moderate, and slightly 

 emarginated. Tarsi as long as the middle toe, slender, and covered in front with broad scales. Toes 

 short and slender ; the outer toe rather longer than the inner, and united at the base ; the hind toe 

 short, and broadly padded beneath ; the claws short, slender, and very acute. 



The species are inhabitants of the tropical parts of America, where they are generally seen sitting on the trees or 

 on some prominent place, watching the approach of insects, after which they take a sweep, and, having secured them, 

 return sometimes to the same perch. They also prey on small fish and on reptiles, and occasionally feed on berries. It is 

 not unusual to observe one of these birds on a twig overhanging the surface of the water, into which they dive 

 repeatedly, and then remain for some time quiet to dry and dress their plumage in the sun. Their flight is quick and 

 rapid ; and they have been observed slowly hovering over the fields or rivers, as if watching for their food, which, 

 having espied, they secured by a sudden sweep. Some of the species are remarkable for their courage, especially 

 during the breeding season : should a crow, hawk, or even an eagle, approach their nest, they launch into the air to 

 meet him, mount to a considerable height above him, and dart down on his back, sometimes fixing there to the 

 great annoyance of the intruder, who, if no convenient retreat or resting-place be near, endeavours by various evolutions 

 to rid himself of his merciless adversary. The nest is built in trees, at no great height from the ground ; externally 

 it is composed of twigs well woven together with tow and wool, and lined with dry fibrous grass and horse-hair. 

 Some species collect together loose hay, feathers of birds, hog's bristles, pieces of cast off snake-skins, and dog's hairs, 

 in the hollow of a tree. The eggs are usually four or five in number. 



8. T. ritfiventris Vieill Ency. Meth. p. 856 Azara, No. 205. 



9. T. melancholicus Vieill. N. Diet. d'Hist. Nat. xxxv. p. 48. — 

 Muscieapa Despotes Licht. ; M. furcata Spix, Av. Bras. ii. t. \<j. ; 

 Tyrannus crudeh's Swains. 



10. T. ruslicus (Licht.) Pr. Max. Beitr. iii. p. 866. — Muscieapa 

 cinerascens Spix, Av. Bras. ii. 21. ; Tyrannus calcaratus Swains. 

 Jard. & Selby., 111. Orn. pi. 37. 



11. T. crassirostris Swains. Quart. Journ. of Sci. 1826. p. 273. 



12. T. Cinchoneti Tschudi, Fauna Peruana, p. 12. t. 8. f. 2. 



13. T. vorax Vieill. N. Diet. d'Hist. Nat. xxxv. p. go. 



14. ? T. americanus (Lath.) PI. enl. 397. 



15. T. .— Tyrannus rufiventris D'Orb. 8; Lafr. Syn. 



Av. p. 45., Voy. dans l'Amer. Me'r. Ois. t, 32. f. 3, 4. 



16. T. aurantio-atro-cristatus D'Orb. & Lafr. Syn. Av. p. 45. 



1. T. intrepidus Vieill. PI. enl. 676. — Muscieapa tyrannus 

 Briss. ; Muscieapa aniraosa Licht. Wife. Amer. Orn. pi. 13. f. 1. ; 

 Tyrannus pipiri Vieill. Ois. d'Amer. t. 44., Audub. B. of Amer. pi. 



79- 



2. T. matutinus Vieill. PI. enl. 537. — Lanius tyrannus Linn. 

 Voy. l'Isle de Cuba, Ois. t. 14. 



3. ? T. griseus Vieill. Ois. d'Amer. Sept. t. 46. — Tyrannus 

 dominicensis Briss. Audub. B. of Amer. pi. 170. 



4. T. verticalis (Say), Pr. Bonap. Amer. Orn. pi. 2. f. 2., 

 Audub. B. of Amer. pi. 359. f. 1 , 2. — Tyrannus vociferans 

 Swains. 



5. T. cinereus Vigors, Zool. Beechey's Voy. p. 17- 



6. T. caudifasciatus D'Orb. Voy. l'Isle de Cuba, t. 12. 



7. T. magnirostris D'Orb. Voy. l'Isle de Cuba, t. 13. 



Milvulus Swains* 



Bill moderate, broad, and depressed at the base, with the culmen slightly sloping, and the sides com- 

 pressed to the tip, which is hooked and emarginated; the gonys long and slightly ascending ; the nostrils 

 lateral, with the opening rounded, and partly covered by the projecting bristles. Wings long ; with the 

 first quill long, the second longest, and the third equal to the first, and all the quills suddenly 



Established by Mr. Swainson in 1827. Muscipipra of M. Lesson (1831) is synonymous. 



