strength of the hind toe (conspicuous in this and the preceding sub-families) is
still preserved; but the proportionate length of the middle toe is much increased.
We are thus justified in believing that the natural group, which would next follow
in affinity, must be one in which these members are greatly developed. A chasm,
however, at present exists in our passage to the
CRATEROPODIN.*,
or Long-legged Thrushes, which we shall neither disguise, nor attempt to smooth
over. Certain it is, that the birds we are now to dwell upon are placed by all
naturalists with the Thrushes ; that they exhibit peculiarities among themselves,
which distinctly separate them as one of the leading divisions of the family; and
that however unprepared we may be to establish their direct union with the
OriolincB, still that their other affinities do not admit of our referring them to any
other station. Many of the forms, indeed, have not escaped the nice discrimination
of modern ornithologists ; but as the existence of the group itself has never
yet been even suspected, a few preliminary remarks on its typical distinctions
appear necessary.
The birds composing this sub-family are at once distinguished by the great
strength of their legs ; these members being, in all their details, larger and more
muscular than those of all other Thrushes. The claws, although strong, are
slender, and but slightly curved; the wings, in comparison to the body, are very
short, convex, and indicate great weakness of flight; the tail is lengthened, generally
broad, but sometimes narrow; and the whole plumage peculiarly lax and
soft; the feathers of the head are frequently intermixed with setaceous hairs, and
others, of a much more rigid texture, appear to defend the eyes ; the bill is variable
in its length, and even in its general form, but, upon the whole, it may be characterized
as having a peculiar hard and horny appearance, the sides always very
much compressed, the culmen elevated and arched, and the tip either entire, or
but slightly notched; the nostrils are protected by a hard convex membrane,
similar to the gallinaceous tribe. In regard to size, it comprehends some of the
smallest, and most of the largest, birds in the whole family, a circumstance of
very easy explanation, when the true nature of the group is understood. Their
habits and economy are singular. It appears that most of the typical species
principally live in the vicinity of water, among reeds ; their notes are particularly
loud, harsh, and grating; and in these retreats they keep up a perpetual monotonous
babbling: some, however, possess much more harmony; but nearly all
appear to frequent only low trees or shrubs. Their geographic range is almost
limited to the warm latitudes Birds answering to this desocfr itphteio On lhda Wveo brlede.n scattered in almost every group
of the Insessores. It is therefore impossible, at present, to name the most typical
genus. That to which we have given the name of Crateropus * appears to exhibit
the above: characters in great perfection, although the Gracula striata, of the
Paris Museum, another very prominent type, may possibly hold this station : near
to these we must place the genera Megalurus, Pomatorhinus, and Timalia, of
Dr. Horsfield; the Dasiornis f and Phosphodes of Mr. Vigors; part of the
Maluri of M. Temminck, together with the newly-characterized type, Donocobius,
Swains.this latter being the only representation of the group in South America.
Dissimilar as this sub-family undoubtedly is to the Orioles, there are not wanting
forms in, each, which, to us, evince a mutual approximation. Sericulus prepares
us for the great change about to take place in the structure of the feet,; while we
are in possession of a Long-legged Thrush, decidedly belonging to this subfamily,
whose plumage, at least, immediately reminds us of the Orioles. Like
those birds, also, the rictus is smooth, the nostrils completely naked, the bill
lengthened, compressed, and slightly arched; and, like the Orioles (as it is said),
we know that this bird fabricates a most beautiful, long, pendulous nest§.
To pursue our observations on the minor forms of this sub-family, would be to
theorize where we should analyze. It therefore only remains to show in what
manner the aberrant circle is closed, by the union of this family with the Bracliy-
podince. For this purpose, let the ornithologist examine the Icteria polyglotta, or
the: Yellow-breasted Chat of Wilson : he will there see a bird possessing nearly
all the typical characters of the Long-legged Thrushes; their short, compressed,
arched, and entire bill; their feeble rounded wings—their strong and lengthened
tarsi—and their hairy crown. Let him read the extraordinary history, given by
the American ornithologist, of this singular bird (vol. i., p. 90) ; let him then turn
to the account of the African Bracliypus, described by Le Vaillant, under the name,
of Le Brunoir, Qis. d’Af., iii., p. 39, and he will be disposed to think that either
description might be applied to one or both birds.
But if we had entertained any latent doubts on this union, the recent proposal of
*+ ZTohoilso gnicaaml Iel,l uasst raatliroenads;y inNtiemwa Stecdr iebsy, MNor.. G17r,a yp,i . m80u.s t be rejected! since the group ,h ad, ,l ong before rece.ive. d. the.
denomination of Sphdmma from that learned zoologist and accomplished traveller, Professor Lichtenstein.
t+ AU fi nNe .s Spe.,c Nimoe.n 1, 6b, optih. 7o2f. the bird and its nest, formerly in Bullock’s HM useum, i.s no.w in. tha.t of tnh e TL i■v erpool,
Institution. We have subsequently received two skins of this bird from Western Africa; and another, in the
Fort Pitt Museum of Chatham, was brought from the coast of Gambia.—Sw.