BIRDS — SYLVICOLIDAE — NEOCORY8. 



233 



A specimen (792S) from Shoalwater Bay has a greenish olivaceous gloss, not noticed in others. 



Tliis species is closely related to the Anthits spiuolelta and ohscurus of Europe, but, according 

 to Zander, (Cahauis* Jour, fiir Ornithologie, 1853, Extra Heft, p. G3,) wliile it agrees with the 

 former in the black bill, it is distinguished from it by a much darker and more olive green color 

 above, a much greater extent and purity of white in the tail, by the tarsus, one to two lines 

 shorter, and by a diflerent relative proportion of the primaries. From the latter it is known 

 by the darker bill, feet, and upper parts generally, and by the pure lustrous white of the tail 

 feathers. It is smaller than either species, has a proportionally longer tail, yellowish lore, 

 and a totally different coloration beneath ; the ground color being rusty or reddish yellow, with 

 dark brown narrow spots across the breast. 



The following diagnosis is given by Zander to distinguish the A. ludovicianus from its Euro- 

 pean analogues : 



Sp. Ch. — Bill and foot blackish ; the longest tortial (?) one line shorter than the longest primary. The light marking on the 

 outer tail feathers shining white ; and on the outermost one, involving the half of the feather, its shall for the most part white. 

 Body above olivo green, the superciliary stripe yellowish. 



List of sptcimens. 



NEOCORYS, Sclater. 



Aeocorys, Sclater, Pr. Zool. Soc. Lond. 1857, 5. 



Ch. — Bill half as long as the head; the cultnen concave at the base, slightly decurved at the tip. Rictus without 

 bristles. Legs stout ; tarsi distinctly scutellate, longer than the middle toe. Hind toe very long, equal to the tarsus, much 

 longer than the middle toe ; its claw but slightly curved, and about half the total length. Inner lateral too rather longer than 

 outer. Wings much longer than the tail ; first quill longest. Tertials considerably longer than secondaries. Tail rather short, 

 emarginate. 



This genus is closely related to Anthus, but is stouter, with shorter tail, a shorter and stouter 

 bill, larger feet, &c. The hind toe is much larger, the claw larger and less curved, and occupies 

 only half instead of more than half the total length. 



The coloration is quite similar, but the edges of the feathers above are lighter, the spots or 

 streaks confined to the breast, and sparser. 



The detailed measurements of the single species will be found with dnthibs. 

 30 b 



