TYRANNIN^. 
.5 
fifth we have the most perfect clevelopement of the lanine 
structure. 
(6.) We shall commence with the Tyranninao, or 
tyrant shrikes, one of the aberrant divisions of the fa- 
mily, and thus gradually conduct the ornithologist to the 
more perfect or typical groups. It is seldom that the 
links of nature’s chain, connecting two families, are so 
perfectly graduated as to perplex the scientific naturalist ; 
but the connection between die family of shrikes, and 
that of the flycatchers (Muscicapidm), by means of tlie 
group now before us, is so perfect, that it is difficult at 
present to determine where one terminates, and the other 
commences. The water-chats of Brazil pass by such 
imperceptible degrees into the lesser tyrant slirikes of 
the same country (^Tyrannula Sw.), that, although an 
observer on the spot, by studying tiie manners of these 
groups, might draw a line of distinction, the ornithologist 
of Europe, acquainted only with their dried skins, is at 
a loss to distinguish their remote ramifications. We 
may, however, form some idea on this difficult subject, by 
looking to the colours of the two groups. The water- 
chats (^Fluvicolina;), which seem to connect the tyrant 
shrikes to the flycatchiug family, or the Mztscicapidat, like 
very many other tribes, have their plumage black and white 
variously blended, but without any mixture of green. The 
lesser tyrants (Tyrannula), on the contrary, are all of an 
olive-coloured plumage ; that colour, in short, which is 
most adapted for concealment among foliage, and there- 
fore suited to their manner of life : between these, how- 
ever, we find some curious birds, which borrow the 
habits of both groups. The species called by Latham 
white-headed tody, for instance, is black and white : its 
general resort is on the sides of marshes, where it 
perches upon the reeds, and darts on passing insects in 
the same manner as a true tyrant shrike ; this we 
have ourselves repeatedly witnessed. Azara says, that 
it likewise chases insects upon the ground * ; so that 
we have thus, in this one bird, the manners of both 
* Voy. vol. iii. p. 363. 
