INSESSORES. 191 



In a note on the name of this species by the late Mr. 

 Strickland, that gentleman says, " As this bird was very 

 accurately described by Latham in his second ' Supplement ' 

 under the name of Gracida picata ; and as the name picata is 

 more correctly descriptive than ci/anoleuca, which he had 

 previously applied to it, I should prefer making \hQ permanent 

 designation of the bird Grallina picata, rather than G. ci/ano- 

 leuca" ; coinciding with Mr. Strickland's views, I have adopted 

 his suggestion. 



Family CAMPEPHAGIN^. 



The birds which I intend to keep under the above family 

 name are very numerous in Australia, in the Indian Islands, 

 and in the Peninsulas of India and Malacca, The Australian 

 members appear to be naturally divided into two or three 

 well-marked forms — Graucalus, Fteropodocys, and Cam/pe- 

 phaga. These three forms, however, constitute but a small 

 portion of this extensive family, in which, perhaps, the 

 beautifully coloured Pericrocoti should be comprised. All 

 the species are individually very numerous, and, being truly 

 insectivorous, must perform a most important part in the 

 economy of nature. 



Most of the members of this group build a flat slight nest of 

 fine short dead twigs, curiously joined together with cob- 

 webs, on which they lay two eggs. 



Genus GRAUCALUS, Cuvier. 



The infinite changes of plumage which some of the Austra- 

 lian members of this genus undergo from youth to maturity 

 render their investigation very perplexing. I have done my 

 best to define them correctly ; if I have committed some 

 errors, let us hope that a son of the great southern land may 

 be imbued with a sufficient love for natural science to pay 

 attention to the subject, and place it in a truer light. 



