2i6 TYRANT FLYCATCHER, OR KING BIRD. 



northern districts. The epithet tyrant, which is generally 

 applied to him by naturalists, I am not altogether so well 

 satisfied with; some, however, may think the two terms 

 pretty nearly synonymous. 



Lanius, and an aberrant form, Tyrannince, represented by Tyrannus. 

 Of the former, we have already seen an example at page 73. These 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 

 Tyrannince, so much so, that several individuals, of three or four species, 

 may be seen in the surrounding trees at the same moment, watching 

 for passing insects ; each, however, looks out for its 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 termina- 

 tion of the rainy season, when myriads of the Termites and Formicce 

 emerge from the earth in their winged state, that the whole family of 

 tyrants, of all sizes and species, commence a regular and simultaneous 

 attack upon the thousands which then spring from the ground." 



From their long-accepted 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 impor- 

 tance 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 

 Tliamnophilince, or bush shrikes, of a graduated or rounded form, where 

 the individuals seek their prey by stealth and prowling, and require no 

 great extent of flight ; on the other hand, those organs of less utility 

 for securing the means of sustenance 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 con- 

 siderable strength, is flattened ; the rictus being ample, and furnished 

 with bristles. The genus Tyrannus, however, does not entirely feed on 

 insects when on wing, like the smaller Tyrannula, 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 



* In many species the quills become suddenly emarginated at the tips. This 

 also occurs in the subgenera Milvulus and Negeta, both much allied, and pos- 

 sessing great powers of flight. 



