243. Poephila acuticauda, G o u ld ...................................................................................................................y 0i; j™ pi, go.
244. Poephila personata, Gould . . . . . . . . . . . . Vol. III. PI. 91.
245. Poephila leucotis, G o u l d Yol, | | | v. pj 92.
246. Poephila cincta, Gould y 0l, JII. PI. 93.
Genus D o n a c o l a , Gould.
Generic characters.
As in the genus Amadina, but with the bill much more developed and gibbose at the base, with the culmen
elevated and the lower mandible retiring backward on the face; wings shorter and rounder; feet more adapted for
clinging, and remarkable for the greater development of the hind-toe and n a il; tfat'Lfeathers rigid.
247. Donacola castaneothorax, Gould . . . . . . . . . . . Vol. III. PI. 94
248. Donacola pectoralis, Gould . . . . . . . . . . . . Yob III. PI. 95
249. Donacola flaviprymna, G o u l d ......................................................... . Vol. III. PL §6.
Genus E m b l em a , Gould.
Generic characters.
Bill nearly as long as the head, conical, and much resembling that of the genus Ploceus; wings moderately
long as compared with the body; first quill rudimentary, the four next equal in length; tertiaries much lengthened;
tail moderately long and nearly square, or slightly rounded; feet plantigrade; toes extremely slender, the middle
toe much longer than the lateral ones, which are equal in length.
250. Emblema picta, Gould • • ■ • • • . . . . . . Vol I I I PI 97
The single example of this beautiful bird, which was procured and presented to me by B. Bynoe, Esq.* is I
believe all that has ever been seen; I regret to say it no longer graces my collection, having been stolen therefrom,
together with some other valuable birds, in the year 1846.
Family MERULIDjE, Vig.
Genus P it t a , Vieill.
The members of this genus extend from tropical India throughout the islands of the Indian Archipelago to
Australia; one or two species also occur in Africa. Of the three inhabiting Australia the Pitta Iris is figured for
the first time in the present work, and is one of the very finest species of this lovely group of birds.
251. Pitta strepitans, Tenrn. . . . . . . . . . . . y 0j j y p j j
Since my account of this species was printed I have received its eggs, accompanied by the following notes
from Mr. Strange of Sydney
1 1 never saw any bird whose actions are more graceful than those of the Pitta strepitans, when seen in its
native brushes, where its presence is indicated by its singular call, resembling the words ‘ want a watch,' by
imitating which you can call it close to the muzzle of your gu n ; no sooner, however, does it commence breeding
than i t becomes shy and retiring, keeping out of sight in the most artful manner, moving about from place to place,
and occasionally uttering its cry until it has drawn you away from the nest. The nests I have seen were placed in
the spur of a fig-tree near the ground, outwardly constructed of sticks and lined with moss, leaves and fine pieces
of bark; the eggs are four in number,” of a pale creamy-white marked all over with irregularly-shaped blotches
of brown and deep vinous grey, the latter appearing as if beneath the surface of the shell; they are one inch and
a quarter in length by seven-eighths of an inch in breadth.
252. Pitta Vigorsii, G o u l d ................................................................................................ Vol. IV. Pi. 2.
I regret to say that up to the present time I have not been able to obtain any information respecting this
species, the specimen of which, in the Linnean Society’s Collection, is the only evidence we have of its occurring in
Australia; I believe New Guinea to be its true habitat.
253. Pitta Iris, Gould . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Vol. IV. PI. 3.
Genus C in c l o so m a , Vig. Horsf.
Among the novelties comprised in the present work, there are none more important than the additional
members of this genus ; three well-defined species being described and figured, of which only one was previously
known. The form is peculiar to Australia, and is, I believe, closely allied to my genus Ianthocincla, a group of birds
confined to India.
254. Cinclosoma punctatum, Vig. 8f Horsf. . . . . . . . . . . Vol. IV. PI. 4.
255. Cinclosoma castanotus, Gould '. '. . . . . . . . Vol. IV. PI. 5.
256. Cinclosoma cinnamomeus, Gould . . . . .. . . . . . Vol. IV. PI. 6.
When my drawing. of this species was made, I had only seen the male; since then Captain Sturt has presented
me with a female, which differs from the opposite sex in the absence of the black markings of the throat,
breast and wings, which parts are brownish grey.
Genus O r e o c in c l a , Gould.
Bill as long, or longer than the head, slightly incurved, compressed laterally; the tip of the upper mandible
overhanging the under; notch considerably removed from the tip ; tomia or cutting edges sharp; nostrils basal,
oval; rictus beset with a few short hairs ; wings moderately long and rigid, first quill very short, the fourth and fifth
nearly equal, and the longest; tail rather short and square, the feathers rigid, and running to a point exteriorly;
tarsi moderate, scales entire; toes slender, particularly the hinder one; outer toes nearly equal, but the inner one
rather the shortest ; general plumage silky to the touch; the rump-feathers spinous, as in Ceblepyris and Graucalus.
Species of this genus inhabit India, the Indian Islands and Australia, in which latter country, although much
difference in size is observable in Specimens from different localities, I believe only one exists. I t is decidedly a
brush bird, and has many habits in common with the typical Thrushes, but is more shy and retiring.
257. Oreocincla lunulata . . . . . . . . . . Vol. IV. PI. 7.
Family PARADISEIDiE, G. R . Gray.
I certainly consider the accounts I have given of the extraordinary habits of the Chlamyderee and Ptilonorhynchi
as some of the most valuable and interesting portions of my work, and however incredible they may appear I am
happy to say they have been fully confirmed by other observers.
Genus C h l a m y d e r a , Gould.
Generic characters.
Bill moderate, oilmen elevated, and arched to the tip which is emarginated, compressed on the sides; gonys
slightly advancing upwards; nostrils basal, lateral, exposed, rounded, and pierced in a membrane; wings long and
pointed, first primary short, second primary shorter than the third and fourth, which are equal, and the longest;
tail long and slightly rounded; tarsi robust, defended anteriorly with broad scuta; toes long and strong; outer toe
longer than the inner, hind-toe long and robust; claws long, curved, and acute.