MUSCICAPIDiE. 
79 
one side, and from the Anipelidce, or chatterers, on the 
other ; while another is to he found in the mode or 
manner of their feeding. The warblers fly about, hunt- 
ing down their prey, searching among trees, and roam- 
ing from place to place after their favourite food ; hence 
they become ambulating flycatchers j and their feet are 
consequently large and strong in comparison to the size 
of their bodies. We need only look to the gold-crested 
and wood warblers as exemplifications of this remark, 
even among those species which frequent trees ; but in 
such, as in the stonechats, Saxicolince, and Motacillinee, 
as habitually walk, the feet are much stronger and the 
shanks more lengthened. Now, the very reverse of this 
structure is the typical distinction of the flycatchers ; 
their legs are remarkably small and weak, — more so, per- 
haps, than those of any dentirostral birds, — showing at 
once that their feet are but little used ; and such we 
find to be the case. The flycatchers constitute the fissi- 
rostral type of form among the leading divisions of the 
DerUirosires, and they consequently exhibit all the chief 
indications* of that puiMAny type of nature, as it 
is exhibited in the feathered creation. These, as the 
intelligent ornithologist already knows, are manifested 
in a large and rather wide mouth and bill ; short, feeble, 
and often imperfect feet; great powers of flight, and often 
a considerable length of wing : the developement of this 
latter structure is not always apparent, but it is the 
peculiar power of their flight upon which they chiefly 
depend for procuring subsistence. They are mostly 
sedentary, and only dart upon such insects as come 
witliin a sudden swoop, without attempting to pursue 
their game further, if unsuccessful in the first instance . 
they return, in fact, to the spot they left, or to another 
very near, and there await patiently until another insect 
passes within the proper distance. This habit of feed- 
ing at once explains the reason of the feet being so small 
and weak, by showing that they are merely used to 
support the body ; or, at least, that they are not employed 
* Classification of Animals, p. 249. 
