78 BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 



Order INSESSORES. 



If the Raptores inhabiting Australia are few in number, such 

 is not the case with those next in succession — the Insessores ; 

 for the birds of this Order are not only numerous in species, 

 but comprise many forms peculiar to that country. These 

 will all be ranked, in the following pages, as near to each 

 other as an arrangement of the birds of one portion of the 

 globe will admit. I commence with the Caprimulgidcd, to 

 which succeed the Cypselidce or Swifts, the Hirundinidce or 

 Swallows, the MeropidcB or Bee-eaters, the Halcyonidcd or 

 Kingfishers, the members of that singular genus Artamus or 

 Wood Swallows, the Pardaloti, the Gynmorhince, Graucali, 

 Pach7/cephal(B, CoUuricinclcB, RhipidurcB, Gerygones, PetroiccB, 

 Menurce, Psophodes, Maluri, AcanthizeB, Cinclorhamphi, 

 JEstreldcB, CinclosomcB, Ptilinorhynchi, 8ericulus, Orioli, Corco- 

 rax, Pomatorliini, Struthidea, the great family of 3Ieliphayid(s 

 or Honey-eaters, the Cuculi, Climacteres, Ptilores, and Sittella; 

 followed by the cream of the Australian avifauna, the Psittacidcs 

 or Parrots, — the whole comprising many genera which it would 

 be out of place to particularize here, but which will be com- 

 mented upon as they may require in due succession. 



Family CAPRIMULGID.ffl. 



The members of this group of birds inhabit nearly every 

 portion of the known world ; but none occur in New Zealand 

 nor, I believe, in the Polynesian Islands. 



Genus ^GOTHELES, Vigors and Horsfield. 



Two species of this singular form inhabit Austraha ; one 

 its southern, the other its northern portions. They are 

 both very Owl-like in their habits, actions, and dispositions ; 



