218 
MUSCICAPA. 
tracing the chain of progression. The Myiagra 
flampes differs from all those in its own sub-generic 
circle, not only in the feet, hut in the great length 
of the wings, and the shortness of the tail. Now 
this evidently points it out as an aberrant species, 
and gives an intimation, that in the group which is 
to come next, some species will he found having 
one or more of these characters, and yet partaking 
likewise of those more properly belonging to Myia - 
gra. And such a bird has fortunately been de- 
scribed. The Myiagra macroptera* , in short, 
realizes precisely what the law of variation would 
lead us to expect. It is a Myiagra , according to 
M. M. Horsficld and Vigors, in its bill, “ but the 
comparative length of the wings, and the shortness 
of the tail, distinguish ii from the other species of 
that group ; the wings reach to the extremity of the 
latter member." Now as this structure is almost 
precisely what we see in M.flavipes, why not place 
both in one group ? Here, however, the similarity 
ceases. M.flavipec has a conspicuous crest, because 
it is the rasorial type, while its feet are particularly 
short. M. macroptera has no crest, and its feet are 
fully as long as those of Muscicapa grisola t. It 
retains, in short, according to the account of its 
describers, nothing of Myiagra but its bill ; for its 
w;ings, tail, and feet, are those of our Muscicapa;. 
* Ilorsf. and Vigors. Linn. Trans, xv. 
+ The tarsi of these three birds measure as follows : — 
Myiagra flavipes four- tenths of an inch, Muscicapa grisola six 
tenths, Myiagra macroptera (H. and V.), thirteen-twentieths. 
