6 
ON THE CLASSIFICATION OP BIHDS. 
groups exemplified. Whether this, or the Tyrannula 
amhulans of Brazil, which lives on the ground like a lark, 
constitute a generic type in this division, is at present 
uncertain. The lesser tyrants (T^ronnute) are spread 
over the whole of America, where they represent the 
true flycatcher (Museicapa) of the Old World: both 
have nearly the same manners ; and so closely do they re- 
semble each other, that they can only be distinguished by 
their feet, tail, and wings. From these we may pass to 
the true or greater tyrants, by a little sub-generic group 
(Milvulm Sw.) having very long forked tails. The 
habits of the typical tyrants intimately resemble those of 
the lesser, but they feed upon larger insects more suited 
to their own size ; some imitate the kingfishers, by div- 
ing in the water, and they will even prey upon small 
reptiles. The species, which are numerous, swarm in 
tropical America, where they are every where seen, perched 
upon naked branches, and uttering, at short intervals, a 
sharp and monotonous cry. The tyrants are bold and 
quarrelsome birds, particularly during the season of in- 
cubation : the male will not then suffer any birds to come 
near its nest ; and becomes so infuriated against such 
unconscious intruders, that it will attack both hawks and 
eagles, with a determination not to be resisted, until 
they aie fairly driven away. 
(7.) From the tyrant shrikes to the Ceblepyrince or ca- 
terpillar-catchers, the passage is sufficiently marked by the 
Mexican genus Ptiliogonys *, which brings them very close 
together. We now come to 
a group which is as strictly 
confined to the old world as 
the last is to the New, yet not 
one species is found in Eu- 
rope. Their bill 1 1 5.y 
is nearly as much depressed 
asthatof the tyrants, but the 
absenceoflongbristlesround 
the base shows that their food 
is quite different: we con- 
»Zool. III. 2, pi. 62. 120. 
