66 
Synopsis of the Birds 
Bill moderate, robust, sub-trigonal, depressed, with e1on° 
gated bristles at base; upper mandible inflected at tip, 
notched; lower shorter, somewhat flattened beneath, straight, 
or a little recurved at tip : nostrils basal, lateral, rounded, 
patulous, partly covered by the bristles : tongue depressed, 
ciliated at tip. Feet rather short, slender; tarsus equal, or 
rather longer than the middle toe ; inner toe free, or united 
only at base : nails acute, moderate ; hind nail more incurved 
than the others, larger than that of the middle toe. Wings 
rather long, subacute, the spurious feather short or wanting; 
second and third, or third and fourth primaries longest. 
Tail rather long. 
Young differ from the adult only during the first year. 
Some moult once, others twice a year ; after the second 
moult the male assumes the humble dress of the female. 
Females of those that moult once a year, similar to their males. 
Taciturn ; solitary ; untameable. Perch on the highest 
branches of trees, whence they watch for insects ; pursuing 
chiefly diptera, and taking them on the wing with great agility; 
seldom descend to the ground. Build in woods. Widely 
distributed over the globe : abounding most where insects 
are most numerous, and, by preventing their excessive in- 
crease, may be considered as benefactors of man. Migratory 
in temperate and cold regions. 
* Larger species. (Tyranni of authors.) 
Bold ; attacking and driving victoriously from their nests 
the most powerful birds of prey. 
76. Muscicapa tyrannus, Briss. Blackish, beneath whitish; 
tail even, black, tipped with white. 
Adult, a fulvous spot on the crown. Young without the spot. 
Tyrant Flycatcher , or King Bird , Muscicapa tyrannus , 
Wils. Am. Orn. ii . p. 67. pi. 13. fig. l. 
Inhabits during summer throughout the United States : 
common. 
