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MUSCICAPa. 
the smallest of any species we have yet seen ; and, 
for this genus, is remarkably narrow and compressed. 
W e are, indeed, sceptical as to the birds described 
by Temminck as the female and young male of 
albicollis ; the white edging of the lateral tail- 
feathers, said to exist in the adult male only, is 
opposed to every conclusion drawn from analogy, 
more particularly among the insectivorous birds. 
But to pursue our analysis of the Mxucicapce further, 
will, however, be needless. All the variations that 
we can possibly speak of, from personal knowledge, 
have been enumerated, hut several more no doubt 
exist. Throughout all these, the only characters in 
which no material variation can he detected are 
those of the feet : first, the middle toe is always 
long, and is of the same length as the tarsus; 
2. the tarsus itself is always smooth, and is de- 
fended in front by one entire scale ; and, 3. the 
outer toe is in all united to the middle as far as the 
first joint. Now these three characters will of 
themselves enable any ornithologist to distinguish 
the group from all those which it resembles mother 
families. It may be further remarked, that we 
have not hitherto seen one species of an olive-green, 
that colour apparently belonging only to the sub- 
genus Cryptolopha, where the wings, instead of 
being pointed, are rounded. 
The last sub-genus is 
