Myiadesteæ. Tarsi with a continuous plate anteriorly; longer than middle toe and claw.
Section PTILOGONATEÆ.
Char. Tarsus stout, shorter, or not longer than the middle toe and claw; conspicuously scutellate anteriorly, and frequently on one or other or on both sides; sometimes with a row of small plates behind. Wings much graduated; the second quill not longer than secondaries. Outline of lateral tail-feathers parallel or widening from base to near tip. Tail unvaried, or else inornate at end. Quills without light patch at base. Head crested. Young birds not spotted. Not conspicuous for song.
There are two genera of this section having in brief the following characters:—
Crest narrow, pointed, its feathers stiff, their webs compact; outer primaries broad. Tail rounded … Phænopepla.
Crest broad, decumbent, soft, the feathers loose; outer primaries attenuated. Tail even or cuneate … Ptilogonys.
The genus Ptilogonys has two species, one Mexican, the other Costa-Rican, neither coming within the limits of the United States. The type is P. cinereus, Swainson (Baird, Rev. Am. Birds, 412), a species of the tablelands of Mexico, which may yet be found within the southern borders of the United States in New Mexico or Arizona.
Genus PHÆNOPEPLA, Sclater.
Phænopepla, Sclater, P. Z. S. 1858, 543. (Type, Ptiliogonys nitens, Swains.)
Gen. Char. Crest narrow, pointed behind. Outer primaries broad, not attenuated nor pointed at end; the first half the second. Tail rounded, fan-shaped; feathers very broad, wider towards end. Bill feeble, rather narrow, well bristled; nostrils somewhat overhung by frontal feathers. Sexes dissimilar; male black; quills with median white patch on inner webs; tail not varied.