The birds which form the modern genera of _Daptrius_, _Ibycter_, _Polyborus_, and _Milvago_, present so many characters in common, that we cannot consider them of sufficient rank to be called genera. They appear to us, taken collectively, to form one group, in which every species exhibits a peculiar modification of structure, assimilating either to the Vultures or the Falcons. Allied both in structure and manners to both these families, each bird may be considered as a strongly marked link of connexion. They present, in short, that interchange of characters, generally confined to individual species, which Nature invariably exhibits at the union of her more comprehensive groups. * * * * * * [Illustration: _Painted Flycatcher_ Setophaga picta.] SETOPHAGA picta. _Painted Flycatcher._ ---- Family Muscicapidæ GENERIC CHARACTER.--See Lesson Man. 2 p. 430. ---- SPECIFIC CHARACTER. _Black; breast and middle of the body crimson; greater wing covers, and three external tail feathers, snowy._ In Mus. D. Taylor. ---- A specimen of this richly-coloured bird was sent to John Taylor, Esq., F. G. S., &c., from Real del Monte, in Mexico. It is not only new to Ornithologists, but forms a beautiful addition to a geographic group, originally founded upon one species. The figure is the size of life. The bristles at the bill are compact, rigid, and all directed forwards: under tail covers and thighs whitish: the white band on the wings occupies the greater covers, and the tips of the lesser: the quill covers are also margined with white: the extreme base of the three outer tail feathers are more or less black. The characters upon which we formed this group, confine it strictly to birds of the New World. For although the habits of the typical species evince a marked affinity to the Fantailed Flycatchers of Australia, the construction of their wings is totally different. The disposition of the black and crimson colours on our bird, will remind the Ornithologist of the Red-bellied Flycatcher of Latham, of which, in fact, it is nearly an exact prototype. But this resemblance, however strong, appears to us to be one of analogy, rather than of affinity. We consequently consider the _Muscicapa Multicolor_, _Lathami_, and _Goodenovia_, of MM. Horsfield and Vigors, as more truly belonging to the family of _Sylviadæ_. * * * * * * [Illustration: _Ancillaria rubiginosa_] ANCILLARIA rubiginosa. ---- GENERIC CHARACTER. Shell oblong, smooth, entirely polished: suture not channelled. Base of the pillar oblique, thickened, and striated. S. ---- SPECIFIC CHARACTER. _Shell imperforate, oblong, chestnut; spire elongated; body whorl above banded; base with two belts and a concave groove._ Sw. in Phil. Mag. 62. p. 403. A. rubiginosa. _Sw. in Brand's Journ., No. 36, p. 283._ ----