TYRANT FLYCATCHER, OR KING BIRD. 
217 
The trivial name King as well as Tyrant has been bestowed 
on this bird for its extraordinary behaviour, and the authority 
it assumes over all others, during the time of breeding. At 
formed for quick and rapid flight. * The tail, next in importance as a loco- 
motive organ, is also generally of a form joining the greatest advantages, — 
that of a forked shape; in some with the exterior feathers extending to a 
considerable length, while, in others, certainly only slightly divaricating, or 
nearly square ; but never, as among the Thamnophilince , or Bush Shrikes, of a 
graduated or rounded form, where the individuals seek their prey by stealth 
and prowling, and require no great extent of flight ; on the other hand, those 
organs of less utility for securing the means of sustenance, are of much inferior 
strength and power. The accessory members for seizing their insect prey, are, 
in like manner, adapted to their other powers ; the bill, though of considerable 
strength, is flattened ; the rictus being ample, and furnished with bristles. 
The genus Tyrannus , however, does not entirely feed on insects when on 
wing, like the smaller Tyrannulce, but, as shewn by Mr Swainson, will also 
feed on small fish and aquatic insects ; and, if this fact be united with the 
weak formation of the tarsi, and, in several species, having the toes united at 
the base, there will be an evident connection between this group and the 
Fissirostres. That gentleman, in the second volume of the Northern Zoology , 
relates a fact from his journal when resident in Brazil, most beautifully 
illustrative of this affinity, and shews the value of attending to all circum- 
stances relative to the habits of individuals, which though, like the present, 
of no importance alone, will, when taken in connection with other views, 
be of the very utmost consequence. “ April 7, 1817. Sitting in the house 
this morning, I suddenly heard a splash in the lake close to the window ; 
on looking out, I saw a common Grey-breasted Tyrant, ( Tyrannus crudelis ,) 
perched upon a dead branch hanging over the water, plunging and drying itself. 
Intent upon watching this bird, I saw it, within a quarter of an hour, dive into 
the lake two successive times, after some small fish or aquatic insects, precisely 
like a Kingsfisher ; this action was done with amazing celerity, and it then 
took its former station to plume and dry its feathers.” Here we have exactly 
the habits of the Kingsfisher ; and I believe a contrariety of manner, equally 
worthy of remark, is observed among some of the Dacelones, frequenting woods, 
and darting by surprise on the larger insects. Both tribes have another simi- 
larity in their economy, and delight to sit motionless, either watching their 
prey, or pluming and resting on the extremity or top of some dead branch, 
pale, or peaked rock. With regard to the Tyrant’s being not only carnivorous, 
but preying also on the weaker reptiles, we have the authority of Azara, who 
* In many species the quills become suddenly emarginated at the tips. This also occurs 
in the sub-genera Milvulus and Negeta y both much allied, and possessing great powers of 
flight. 
