181. Amytis t e x t i l i s ........................................................................................................................Vol. HI. Pi. 28.
182. Amytis striatus . . . . . . . . . . . . Vol. HI. PI. 29.
183. Amytis macrourus, Gould V . . . . . . . . , Vol. III. PI. 30.
Genus S tip itu ru s , Less.
A form confined to Australia. Although some slight variation occurs in the specimens from Van Diemen's
Land, Southern and Western Australia, I believe that they are all referable to one and the same species, viz.—
184. Stipiturus malachurus . . . . . . . . . . . . . Vol. III. PI. &.
Genus Dasyornis, Fig. Sf Hors/.
A group of birds adapted for situations covered with an almost impenetrable vegetation, reed-beds, &c. The
two species figured are all that are at present known; of these one is from the eastern and the other from the
western parts of Australia.
185. Dasyornis Australis, Vig. |§ Hors/. Vol. III. PI 32.
186. Dasyornis longirostris, Gould. . . . . Vol. III. PI. 33.
• Prior to my visit to Australia, I described a bird in the ‘ Proceedings of the Zoological. Society,’ Part V.
p. 150, as D. ? brumous, but as I have not since met with the bird in any collection from Australia I presume it is
not a native of that country.
Genus Atrichia, Gould.
Rictus totally devoid of bristles; bill as long as the head, compressed laterally; the upper mandible distinctly
notched at the tip ; gonys ascending from the rictus and then following the line of the bill; culmen ascending high in
front; nostrils moderately large, covered with an operculum, and placed in a groove near the base of the bill; wings
short, round, concave, the first three primaries graduated, the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh equal; tail lengthened,
rounded, the stems rigid, the webs loose and decomposed; tarsi and feet robust, the hind-toe armed with a strong
nail; outer and inner toes equal in length.
The only species of this genus yet discovered is as singular in its structure as it is shy and retiring in its
habits ; the total absence of vibrissas in a bird apparently closely allied to Dasyornis, in which they are so much
developed, renders it one of the anomalies of the Australian fauna.
187. Atrichia clamosa, Gould. . . . . . . . . . . . Vol. III. PI. 34.
Subfamily ^ ?
Genus Sphenieacus, Strickl.
A group of reed- and grass-frequenting birds, which are found not only in every part of Australia, but also in
the Indian Islands and India.
188. Sphenoeacus galactotes .
189. Sphenoeacus gramineus, Gould
Vol. III. PI. 35.
Vol. III. PI. 36.
Genus A c r o c e p h a l u s , Naum.
Of this European and Indian form two species inhabit Australia, where they frequent the reed-beds and the
dense herbage of marshy situations.
190. Acrocephalus Australis, Gould . . . . . . . . . . Vol. III. PI. 37.
191. Acrocephalus longirostris, Gould . . . • . . . . . Vol. III. PI. 38.
Subfamily ?
Genus H yla c o l a , Gould.
Bill shorter than the head, compressed ; equally broad and high at the base ; culmen gradually declining
from the base to the tip ; slightly notched at the apex; rictus beset with a few fine hairs; nostrils basal, oblong,
rather large and defended by an operculum ; wings short, round and concave ; first, second and third primaries
graduated ; the fourth, fifth and sixth equal, and the longest ; tail rather long and round ; tarsi moderate in size ;
toes rather lengthened, the lateral toes equal.
A genus comprising two species peculiar to the southern parts of the country, one of which enjoys an
extensive range from South Australia to Moreton Bay ; the other has, as yet, only been found in the Great Murray
Scrub.
192. Hylacola p y r rh o p y g i a ............................................................................. ...... Vol. III. PI. 39.
193. Hylacola cauta, G o u l d ................................................................................................................... Vol. III. PI. 40.
When I characterized this species in the ‘ Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London,’ I had only seen a
single example ; I have since received a second, proving the correctness of my view of its being quite distinct from
the H. pyrrhopygia, a fact disputed by Mr. Strickland, who had stated it to be his opinion that my figurés were
referable to one and the same species, but who upon an examination of the specimens themselves acknowledged he
was in error.
Subfamily ?
Genus C y s t i c o l a , Less.
However numerous birds of this form may be in Europe, Africa, Asia and the Indian Islands, Australia outvies
them all in the number of species that frequent its grassy plains. With the exception of Van Diemen's Land, every
colony is inhabited by one or more species performing there precisely similar offices to those executed by the
remaining species in the other parts of the world.
194. Cysticola magna, Gould . . . . . . . .
195. Cysticola exilis . . . . . . . . .
196. Cysticola lineocapilla, Gould . . . . . . .
197. Cysticola isura, Gould . . . . . . . .
198. Cysticola ruficeps, Gould . . . . . . .
Subfamily ?
Genus S e r ic o r n i s , Gould.
Vol. III. PI. 41.
Vol. III. PI. 42.
Vol. III. PI. 43.
Vol. III. PI. 44.
Vol. III. PI. 45.
Generic characters.
Bill strong, straight, nearly as long as the head, compressed laterally towards and notched at the tip ; nostrils
basal, lateral, oval, and covered by an operculum ; wings moderate, rounded, the first quill very short, the fourth,
M