PASSERINE. IS/ 



Among those which have a thick and arched bill, may be particularized 



The King: of the Anteatchers (Turdus rex, Gin. ; Corvus grallariiis, Shaw), which is larger than the others, also 

 the highest upon its legs, and that which has the shortest tail : at the first glance it might be taken for a wader ; 

 its size is that of a Quail, and its grey plumage is elegantly barred across. This species lives more isolated than 

 the others. M. Vieillot has formed of it his genus Grallaria. 



The species with a straighter, but still tolerably strong beak, approximate the Rush-Shrikes with similar bills. 



Such are Thamnophilus stellaris and T/i. myotherinut, Spix, with various others. The M. leucophryt, Tem., 

 although from Java, seems to approach this group ; as does also the Brachypteryx montana, I lorsf., from the same 

 country, in the length of its limits ; but its tail is longer in proportion, and beak more like that of a Wheatear. 



Others have a sharp and slender bill, which, together with their barred tail, allies them to the Wrens. 



Such are Turdus bambla, Tem., and T. cantans, Tem. Here should come M. Vieillot's genus lihamphocenet. 



We should replace among the Thrushes, however, numerous species that have been ranged with the Ant- 

 catchers. No group has been more overloaded with species that do not belong to it. At the same time, we must 

 confess that the present is not more rigorously denned than other divisions of the Dcntirustres. 



We may approximate to the Anteatchers 



The Orthonets {Ortlionyx, Tem.), — 

 Which have the beak of the Thrashes, but shorter and more slender ; their legs are long, the claws 

 almost straight, and the tail-feathers terminate in a Stiff point, as in the Tree-creepers. 



[The fact is, that the Anteatchers, Dippers, Wrens, Tree-creepers, and various other named subdivisions, are 

 merely modifications of the same ramus of the great Thrush group, which grade insensibly into each other in every 

 possible way.] 



We should also separate from the Thrushes 



The Dippers {Cinches, Bechstein ; Hydrobata, Vieillot), — 

 Wherein the beak is compressed and straight, with both mandibles of an equal height, nearly linear, 

 and tapering towards the point, the upper but slightly arcuated. 



One inhabits Europe, the White-breasted Dipper (Sturnut ciur/us, Lin. : Turdus cincli.s, Lath.), which stands 

 rather high, and has a moderately short tail, therein approximating the Anteatchers. It is [blackish] brown, with 

 white throat and breast, and remarkable for its singular habit of immersing its whole body without swimming, 

 but walking about [in a jerking, fluttering manner] at the bottom of streams, in search of the small animals which 

 constitute its food. [At least two others have been ascertained, C. Pallarii, from Asia generally, and C. americana ; 

 all of them frequent mountain torrents, and our native species generally builds its domed nest in the precipice 

 behind a water-fall, through which it plunges to and fro ; its actions are very similar to those of a Wren.] 



Africa, and the countries bordering on the Indian Ocean, supply a genus of Birds related to the 

 Thrushes, which I have named 



Philedons (riiiledon, Cuv., comprising Meliphaga, Lewin), — 

 The beak of which is compressed, slightly arcuated throughout its length, and cmarginated towards 

 the tip; their nostrils are larger, and covered by a cartilaginous scale, and their tongue terminated 

 with a pencil of hairs. 



The species, generally remarkable for some peculiarity of conformation, have been distributed by authors in the 

 most various genera. [Their manners and actions, as observed in captivity, bear an exceedingly close resemblance 

 to those of the Starlings.] Some of them have fleshy caruncles at the base of the beak: as Certhia canmculato, 

 Lath., which inhabits the Friendly Isles, and is stated to be a superb songster, with various others. These con- 

 stitute the Creadion of Vieillot, "and certain of them the Anthoehtera, Swainson." 



Others have portions of skin about the cheeks, divested 01 feathers, as the Meropt phrygiui of Shaw, &c. 



In those even, which are every where completely feathered, some peculiar disposition of the plumage may be 

 observed: as in the Meropt Nova Bollandue of hrown, wherem the ear-feathers become frizzled, and descend 

 almost to the tore-part of the breast. 



others again are destitute of any singularity. " Those species in which the bill is Ion/ and slender, as Cert/iin 

 cuculltittt, Vieillot, compose the Mysomrlii, ."-wainson." 



The Minas (Fulabes, Cuv.) — 

 Approximate the Philedons. Their beak is nearly tli.it of a Thrush ; their nostrils round and smooth ; 

 and they are particularly distinguished by the broad strips of naked skin on each side of the occiput 

 and below the cheek. 



Linns us confounded two species under the name of Qraeula reUgiota, That of India (/•.'. Indian), Is the - 

 of a Blackbird, and glossy black, with n white spot near the base of the wing-primaries. Its feet, bill, and the 

 naked parts of us face are yellow. The Javanese species (S.javantu) has a broader bill, moredeepl] cleft, s 

 more hooked at the end, and without emarginatiou : consequently, it should come after Cotorit, Cuv. [a genus 



