fifth and sixth nearly equal and the longest; tail moderate and square; tarsi long; hind-toe and claw strong, and
nearly equal to the middle toe and claw in length; outer and inner toes equal; plumage soft and silky to the touch.
A group of small birds peculiar to Australia, and confined almost exclusively to the southern portion of the
country. Their habits lead them to frequent the most retired parts of the forests, damp and secluded places and
scrubby gullies where the herbage is thick and dense; but some species are found on the flat islands near the coast,
covered with Salsola and other shrub-like trees; they usually frequent the ground, over which they pass with
celerity, and when their haunts are intruded upon conceal themselves under the fallen or dried herbage. Their
flight is peculiar and never protracted, and they all build domed nests like that of the common Wren ( Troglodytes
Europaus').
199. Sericomis citreogularis, Gould . . . . . . . .
Muscicapa barbata, Lath. Gen. Hist. vol. vi. p. 215 ?
Vol. III. PI. 46.
200. Sericomis humilis, Gould . .• . III. PI. 47.
201. Sericomis osculans, Gould . . . . . . . . III^ PI. 48.
202. Sericomis frontalis . . . . . , III. PI. 49.
203. Sericomis kevigaster, Gould . . . . Vol. III. PI. 50.
204. Sericomis maculatus, Gould . . . . . III. PI. 51.
205. Sericomis magnirostris, Gould . . . . . III. PI. 52.
Subfamily
Genus Acanthiza, Vtg. &f Horsf.
With the exception of the north coast, the Acanthiza are dispersed over all the wooded districts of Australia
and Van Diemen’s Land; some species frequenting the brushes, while others tenant the shrubs and belts of trees
on the plains; others again are only found in such districts as the belts of the Murray.
Like some other large groups at present included under one generic title, the Acanthiza might be divided with
propriety | thus the A. pusilla, A. Diemenensis, &c., which are feeble in structure and strictly arboreal, might form
one section; while the A. chrysorrhcea, A. Reguloides, &c., which resort to the ground, might form another. The
nests of all the species that I have seen are of a domed form like that of the European Wren.
The members of this genus and the Maluri are frequently the foster-parents of the shining Cuckoo; (Chryso-
coccyx lucidus).
206. Acanthiza pusilla . . . . . . . . „ • . ' . . Vol. III. PI. 53.
207. Acanthiza Diemenensis, Gould . . . . . . • . . . . Vol. III. PI. 54.
208. Acanthiza Ewingii, Gould . . . . . . . Vol. III. PI. 55.
209. Acanthiza urppygialis, Gould . . . . . . • • • * ■ Vol. III. PI. 56.
210. Acanthiza apicalis, Gould . . . . . ........................................Vol. III. PI. 57.
211. Acanthiza pyrrhopygia, Gould . . . . . . • ' ■ • Vol. III. PI. 58.
212. Acanthiza inomata, Gould . . . . . . . Vol. III. PI. 69.
213. Acanthiza nana, Vig. fy Horsf. . . . . . . Vol. III. PI. 60.
214. Acanthiza lineata, Gould . . . . . ■ . • Vol. I I I . PI. 61.
215. Acanthiza Reguloides, Vig. ty Horsf. . . . . . • Vol. III. PI. 62.
216. Acanthiza chrysorrhcea . . . . . . . ...................................... Vol. III. Pi. 63.
Genus E phthianura, Gould.
Bill shorter than the head, nearly straight, compressed laterally, notched at the tip, gonys incurved; nostrils
basal, linear, and covered by a membrane; wings long, first quill spurious, second very long, third and fourth equal
and longest; tertials very long; tail short and truncate; tarsi entire, moderately long, slight; toes slender, the hinder
toe and claw shorter than the middle one, the inner toe rather shorter than the outer.
Three species of this form are all that are at present known, and of these two are figured for the first time in
the present work. They all inhabit the southern p art of Australia, where they frequent the open districts studded
with bushes and low trees; the E. albifrons is occasionally found on the open plains.
217. Ephthianura albifrons . . . . . . . . * • * Vol. III. PI. 64,
218. Ephthianura aurifrons, G o u l d ............................................................................. „ Vol. III. PI. 65.
219. Ephthianura tricolor, G o u l d ......................................................................................................... Vol. III. PI. 66.
Genus Xerophila, Gould,
Generic characters.
Bill short, semiconical, robust at the base, without any notch at the t ip ; and provided with a few hairs at the
base of the upper mandible; nostrils round and covered by minute feathers; wings moderate in size; first primary
short, the third and fourth the longest; tertiaries broad and somewhat elongated; tail moderate, square and slightly
concave; tarsi robust; hind-toe strong, anterior toes feeble, the exterior longer than the inner one.
A curious form, of which only one species is known, and the situation of which in the natural system is quite
undetermined. I t has many of the actions and manners of the Acanthiza, but its robust and gibbose bill precludes
its being placed with that group. I t is mainly terrestrial in its habits and builds a domed nest.
220. Xerophila leucopsis, Gould . Vol. III. PI. 67.
Genus Pyrrhouemus, Gould.
Generic characters..
Bill shorter than the head, slightly compressed at the sides, with a very minute notch at the tip, and beset
with a few hairs, at the base; nostrils linear and covered with an operculum; wings short, round, first primary
rather short, the third the longest; tail short, round and concave, tarsi moderate; external toe longer than the
inner One.
Another anomalous form, the structure of which does not approximate very nearly to that of any other genus,
but is perhaps most nearly allied to Acanthiza. The only species known frequents scrubby places and thick underwood
; is much on the ground, but occasionally mounts on a twig to sing.
221. Pyrrholsemus brunneus, Gould . . . . . . . . . . . Vol. III. PI. 68.
Genus Origma, Gould.
Bill nearly as long as the head, incurved,, carinated, indented near the t ip ; nostrils oval, lateral, basal, and
covered by an operculum; wings moderate, rounded, first quill short, fourth,-fifth, sixth and seventh nearly equal
and longest; tail moderate and slightly rounded; tarsi moderate; toes rather short, the outer toe much longer than
the inner; plumage dense.
We are here again presented with another form, the structure, habits, and manners of which are all equally
singular. The only species yet discovered inhabits New South Wales, where it frequents stony gullies and rocky
situations in the neighbourhood of caverns, to the roofs of which it attaches its pendent nest, as shown in the Plate.
222. Origma rubricata . . . . . . . . . . . . . Vol. III. PI. 69.
Genus Calamanthus, Gould.
Generic characters.
Bill shorter than the head, dilated at the base, compressed laterally towards the tip ; culmen sharp and advancing
upon the forehead; nostrils lateral, large, oval, and covered by an operculum; rictus destitute of bristles; wings