THE MUSCICAPID.E. 
70 
bristles round the mouth, and their obvious affinity 
to other genera truly insectivorous, might be 
placed at once with the true fruit-eaters ( Ampe- 
lidce), was there any hiatus wherein they could 
be ; introduced. According to our views, however, 
such an hiatus does not exist, the passage from 
the Leiotrichince to the Ampelxdw, although many 
links to render it perfect are wanting, is yet suffi- 
ciently well marked out, and we therefore decide on 
placing these fruit and insect eaters within the con- 
fines of the Muscicapidce. 
One of the chief peculiarities of the flycatchers is 
certainly found in their short and weak feet, a struc- 
ture beautifully adapted for their perching habits, 
but quite incompatible with the power of walking. 
Yet it must be remembered that this, as well as 
every other, natural group, must have a rasorial type, 
and we therefore find that one of the aberrant di- 
visions of the Muscicapidw is distinguished by the 
length and strength of the legs. In all other re- 
spects, however, these walking flycatchers preserve 
the characteristics of their family, and although the 
bills of some are less flattened than usual, the stiff 
bristles of the mouth sufficiently indicate their true 
relationship. It may be proper in this place to ob- 
serve, that no typical Muscicapidw, as here defined, 
have yet been discovered in that part of America 
which lies north of Mexico : The flycatching tribe, 
which formerly bore that name, having been removed 
out of this circle to the confines of the next, where 
they now form part of the Tyrannince or Tyrants. 
