1U<* 



TYRANNIN^l. 



emarginated and pointed. Tail more or less lengthened, and very deeply forked, which is formed by 

 the lengthened outer feathers. Tarsi as long as the middle toe, rather slender, and covered in front 

 with broad transverse scales. Toes long ; with the outer toe longer than the inner, and united at the 

 base ; the hind toe moderate, and broadly padded ; the claws long, slender, and very acute. 



The species that compose this genus are found in the tropical portions of America ; they are seen solitary or in 

 small troops, perched on the branch of a tree, whence they occasionally dart after passing insects. Berries, also, form 

 a portion of their subsistence. Some are observed in inundated places, resting on the tufts of herbage which appear 

 above the water ; while thus seated they are continually opening and shutting the outer lengthened feathers of their 

 tail. The singular form of this organ gives them the power of turning very short in their aerial evolutions, during 

 which they instantaneously open and shut the long feathers either in a horizontal or in a vertical plane. Like other 

 birds of this subfamily they possess great courage, attacking birds far superior to themselves in size. 



1. M. tyrannus (Linn.) Pr. Bonap. PL enl. 571- f. 1. — Ty- 

 rannus savana Vieill. Audub. B. of Amer. pi. 168., Pr. Bonap. 

 Amer. Orn. pi. I. f. 1., Vieill. Ois. d'Amer. Sept. pi. 43. ; Tyr. vio- 

 lentus Vieill. 



2. M. forficatus (Gmel.) Swains. PI. enl. 677-, Pr. Bonap. Amer. 

 Orn. pi. 2. f. 1., Audub. B. of Amer. pi. 359. f- S. 



3. M. bellulus (Vieill.) N. Diet. d'Hist. Nat. xxxv. p. 75. 



4. M. vetulus (Von Oflers), Hartl. — Tyrannus longipennis 

 Swains. Journ. of Sci. and of Arts, p. 283., Jard. & Selby, 111. 

 Orn. pi. 42. 



5. M. monachus Hartl. Rev. Zool. 1844. p. 214. 



6. M. rufitorques Hartl. Rev. Zool. 1844. p. 214. 



M? 



Bill short, broad, and depressed at the base, with the culmen slightly curved, and the sides compressed 

 to the tip, which is hooked and emarginated ; the gonys long and ascending ; the gape furnished with 

 lengthened bristles ; the nostrils lateral, with the opening small and rounded. Wings long and pointed ; 

 with the first quill long, and the second nearly as long as the third and fourth, which are equal and 

 longest. Tail moderate, and slightly emarginated. Tarsi as long as the middle toe, rather slender, and 

 covered in front with transverse scales. Toes rather short and slender ; with the outer toe rather longer 

 than the inner, and united at the base ; the hind toe moderate, and padded beneath ; the claws long, 

 slender, and acute. 



The species are found throughout both North and South America, migrating from place to place on the change of 

 seasons. They are usually seen quietly perched on the branches of the trees which are situated in the most solitary parts 

 of the forests or swamps, and some are occasionally noticed seated on buildings, whence they dart after passing insects, 

 and, having secured them, generally return to the same place. On alighting they frequently move their tails in the 

 manner of Wagtails, and at the same time utter their singular but pleasing notes. Berries also, in certain seasons, form 

 a principal portion of their subsistence. The nest is formed on the trees or in hollows, of moss, sometimes cemented 

 together with mud, but always lined internally with various soft materials. The eggs are usually five in number. 



1. M. crinitus (Linn.) PI. enl. 569. f. 1. ?, Wils. Amer. Orn. 

 13. f. 2., Audub. B. of Amer. pi. 129-— Tyrannus irritabilis Vieill. ; 

 Muscicapa ludoviciana Gmel. Vieill. Ois. d'Amer. t. 45. 



2. M. audax (Gmel.) PI. enl. 453. f. 2. — Tyrannus solitarius 

 Vieill. Azara, No. 196. 



3.+"M. Cooperi (Nutt.) — Tyrannus borealis Swains. Faun. Bor. 

 Amer. ii. p. 141. pi. 35., Audub. B. of Amer. pi. 174. 



4. U.ferox (Gmel.) PI. enl. 571. f. 1. — Type of Myiarchus 

 Cabanis (1844). 



5. M. tuberculifer (D'Orb. & Lafr.) Syn. Av. p. 43. Voy. dans 

 lAme'r. Me'r. Ois. t. 32. f. 1. 2. 



6. M. nunciola (Wils.) Catesby, Carol, pl. 53., Wils. Amer. Orn. 

 pi. 13. f. 4., Vieill. Ois. d'Amer. Sept. pl. 40., Audub. B. of Amer. 

 pl. 120. — Muscicapa fusca Gmel. 



* Originally established by Mr. Swainson, in 1827, under the name of Tyrannula; which, having been used with the termination in us, 

 was changed by me in 1838 to the above. It embraces Myiarchus of M. Cabanis (1844). 



