THE 
MUSCICAPID^, 
Containing the Todies and Flycatchers, as is well 
known, form one of the great divisions of the inses- 
sorial or perching order, and are united on one side 
to the Ampelidce or chatterers, and on the other to 
the Liniadce or shrikes. The food of the chatterers, 
however, is ahnost exclusively confined to fruits ; 
but one of the chief characteristics of the family now 
before us is that of feeding entirely upon insects ; 
these are captured by the bill, during flight, in. the 
same manner as that adopted by the swallows and 
all fissirostral birds. Their organization is conse- 
quently in strict conformity with this habit, and we 
shall see how beautifully nature has adapted it for 
such a life. The wings are not formed for such ra- 
pidity and celerity of movement as those of the swal- 
lows, since the flycatchers do not pursue their prey 
to any distance ; but this deficiency is compensated 
by a very unusual breadth in the bill, the sides of 
which are furnished with long rigid bristles pointing 
forwards ; thus provided, a flycatcher darts upon an 
insect with unerring certainty, since, if it fails to 
get a firm hold by its bill, the bristles standing out 
on each side confine the struggles of the victim, and 
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