Tyrant-birds

Tyrant-birds (Tyrannidae), a family of passerine birds, chiefly confined to tropical regions. Among the 350 species of which the family consists, there is great diversity of form and even of habit. Noteworthy species are the 'Scissor-tail' (Milvulus forficatus), remarkable for its grace of form and beauty of plumage, and the common American Shrike-billed Kingbird or Bee-martin (Tyrannus tyrannus). The latter, like all the tyrant-birds, is of a pugnacious temper, and is a determined enemy to sparrow-hawks and other small birds of prey; but it is much disliked by farmers on account of its propensity for eating bees.