216 
TYRANT FLYCATCHER, OR KING BIRD. 
TYRANT FLYCATCHER, OR KING BIRD. — MUSCICAPA 
TYR ANNUS.* — Plate XIII. Fig. 1. 
Lanius tyrannus, Lin. Syst. 136. — Lath. Syn. i. 186. — Catesb. i. 55. — Le Tyran 
de la Caroline, Buff. iv. 577. PI. enl. 676. — Arct. Zool. p.384. No. 263.— 
Peale's Museum, No. 578. 
TYRANNUS INTREPIDUS, Vieillot. 
Muscicapa tyrannus, Bonap. Synop. p. 66 Tyrannus intrepidus, Vieill. Gal. des 
Ois. pi. 133. — North. Zool. ii. 137 The Tyrant Flycatcher, Aud. pi. 79, male 
and female > Orn. Biog. i. 403. 
This is the Field Martin of Maryland and some of the 
southern states, and the King Bird of Pennsylvania and 
several of the northern districts. The epithet Tyrant , which 
is generally applied to him by naturalists, I am not altogether 
so well satisfied with ; some, however, may think the two 
terms pretty nearly synonymous. 
* Among the family of the Lanaidoe, North America possesses only two 
of the sub-families ; the typical one, Lanianoe, represented by Lanius, and an 
aberrant form, Tyranninoe, represented by Tyrannus. Of the former, we have 
already seen an example at page 73. These are comparatively few ; the 
great bulk of that form being confined to Africa, and the warmer parts of 
Asia and India ; and, with the latter, we enter into the great mass of American 
Flycatchers, ranging over both the continents, particularly the southern. 
“ Tropical America,” Mr Swainson remarks, “ swarms with the Tyranninoe , 
so much so, that several individuals, of three or four species, may be seen in 
the surrounding trees at the same moment, watching for passing insects ; each, 
however, looks out for its own particular prey, and does not interfere with 
such as appear destined by Nature for its stronger and less feeble associates. 
It is only towards the termination of the rainy season, when myriads of the 
Termites and Formicoe emerge from the earth in their winged state, that the 
whole family of Tyrants, of all sizes and species, commence a regular and 
simultaneous attack upon the thousands which then spring from the ground.” 
From their long accepted name we have some idea of their manners. They 
possess extensive powers of locomotion, to enable them to secure a prey 
at once active and vigilant ; and their J ong and sharp wings are beautifully 
