432 SYSTEMATIC SYNOPSIS. — PASSEBES— CLAMATOBES. 
smaller than ^, witli the tail commonly less developed. Young: Snnilar ; primary not 
abruptly emarginate ; tail undeveloped ; no crown-spot, and little or no red. Lower Missis- 
sippi valley and Texas ; usually N. to Indian Tem- 
tory and Kansas, even S. W. Missouri ; accidental in 
New Jersey and New England! A most elegant, 
graceful, and showy bird, abundant in Texas, con- 
spicuous by the display it makes in opening and clos- 
ing the tail, like scissor-blades ; very active, dashing 
and noisy, like a king-bird, — all the large flycatchers 
sharing this same impetuous, irritable disposition. 
Nesting like the king-bird's ; eggs 4-5, white, boldly 
blotched with reddish on the surface, and lilac shell- 
spots ; laid in May. 
119. TYRAN'NUS. (Lat. ^?/ramms, a tyrant.) King Fly- 
catchers. Tail moderate in size and shape, rather 
shorter than wing, even or little rounded, emarginate 
or lightly forked. Wings long, pointed by the 2d-3d 
quills, 1st and 4th little if any shorter, 5th and rest 
rapidly graduated. Several outer primaries abruptly 
emarginate or sinuate-narrowed on inner webs towards 
end. Bill stout, flattish, fully bristled, notched, and 
hooked (fig. 278). Feet small and weak, the tarsus 
with scales obviously lapping around. Size large : 
length 8 inches or more ; wing over 4. Sexes alike ; 
9 sharing the flaming crown-patch primaries less or 
not emarginate ? Young lacking the crown-spot and 
attenuation of primaries. Nest bulky, on a bough, 
compactly woven and felted. Eggs white, boldly 
marked with oval or tear-shaped spots of reddish - 
brown. Contains numerous species, 5 of N. Am., which have been divided into several named 
subgenera, but are closely interrelated through various exotic species. They are the king- 
birds" proper. 
Analysis of Species. 
No olive nor decided yellow ; blackisli and whitish. 
Only two primaries obviously emarginate. Tail about even, conspicuously white-tipped. Bill small, 
under 1.00. {Tijrannus) carolinensis 
Five or six primaries emarginate. Tail emarginate, merely lighter at end. Bill big, 1.00 long. {Melit- 
tarchus) dominicensis 
Olivaceous, with pure yellow on belly, ashy on head. Bill moderate. {Laj)hyctes.) 
Tail blackish, merely emarginate; wings dark brown. 
Several outer primaries gradually attenuate for a long distance. Outer web of outer tail-feather 
white verticalis 
Several outer primaries abruptly emarginate for a short distance. Outer web of outer tail-feather 
merely whitish-edged vociferans 371 
Tail dark brown, like the wings, obviously forked 
Several outer primaries abruptly emarginate for a short distance couchi 372 
368. T, carolinen^sis. (Of Carolina. Fig. 283.) King-bird. Bee-martin. ^ 9 , adult : 
No olive nor decided yellow. Only two outer primaries obviously emarginate (fig. 279, h). 
Tail nearly even — if anything a little rounded. Blackish-ash, still darker or quite black on 
head, crown with a flaming spot. Below, pure white, the breast shaded with plumbeous. 
Wings dusky, with much whitish edging. Tail black, broadly and sharply tipped with 
white, the outer feather sometimes edged with the same. Bill and feet black. Young : 
Lacking emargination of the primaries, and no crown-spot ; very young birds show rufous 
Fig. 282. — Swallow-tailed 
(Sheppard del. Nichols sc.) 
Flycatcher. 
368 
369 
370 
