. Key to North American birds; containing a concise account of every species of living and fossil bird at present known from the continent north of the Mexican and United States boundary. Illustrated by 6 steel plates and upwards of 250 woodcuts. Birds. 1 168 TYRANNIDiE, FLYCATCHERS. Subfamihj TTRANNINJE, True Tyrants, presenting tbo following characters :—Wings oi 10 primaries, the 1st never spurious nor very short, one or more frequently emarginate or attenuate on the inner web near the end. Tail of 12 rectrices, usually nearly even, sometimes deepljr forflcate. Feet small, weak, exclu- sive
. Key to North American birds; containing a concise account of every species of living and fossil bird at present known from the continent north of the Mexican and United States boundary. Illustrated by 6 steel plates and upwards of 250 woodcuts. Birds. 1 168 TYRANNIDiE, FLYCATCHERS. Subfamihj TTRANNINJE, True Tyrants, presenting tbo following characters :—Wings oi 10 primaries, the 1st never spurious nor very short, one or more frequently emarginate or attenuate on the inner web near the end. Tail of 12 rectrices, usually nearly even, sometimes deepljr forflcate. Feet small, weak, exclu- sively fitted for perching ; the tarsus little if any longer than the middle toe and claw, the anterior toes, especially the outer, extensivelj' coherent at base. Bill very broad and more or less depressed at the base, and tapering to a fine point, thus presenting a more or less perfectly triangular outline when viewed from above ; the tip abruptly deflected and usually plainly notched just behind the bend ; the culmen smooth and rounded transversely, straight or nearly so lengthwise, except towards the end ; the commissure straight (or slightly curved) except at the end ; the gonys long, flat, not keeled. Nostrils small, circular, strictly basal, overhung but not concealed by bristles. Mouth capa- cious, its roof somewhat excavated, the rictus ample and deeplj' cleft, the commissural point almost beneath the anterior border of the eye. Rictus beset with a number of long stiff bristles, sometimes reaching nearly to the end of the bill, but generally shorter, and flaring outward on each side; there are other bristles or bristle-tipped feathers about the base of the bill. The bill is very light, gives a resonant sound, in dried specimens, when tapped, and on being broken open, the upper mandible will be found extensively hollow. These several peculiarities of the bill are the more obvious and important features of the group ; and will prevent our small olivaceous flycatchers from b
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1870, booksubjectbirds, bookyear1872
