348 BIRDS or AUSTRALIA. 



the outer web white at the base, forming a conspicuous spot 

 in the centre of the wing ; tail blackish brown, tipped with 

 white ; throat striated with black and white, produced by 

 each feather being black down the centre iind fringed with 

 white ; flanks mottled brown and white ; abdomen white ; 

 bill dark brown; irides buffy white; feet flesh-brown. 



When I characterized this species in the ' Proceedings of 

 the Zoological Society of London,' I had only seen a single 

 example ; I have since received a second, proving the correct- 

 ness of my view of its being quite distinct from the H.pyrrho- 

 jpygia, a fact disputed by the late Mr. Strickland, who stated 

 it to be his opinion that H. pyrrhopygia and H. cauta were 

 one and the same species, but who, upon an examination of 

 the specimens themselves, acknowledged he was in error. 



Total length 5f inches ; bill yq ; wing 2-g^ ; tail 2 J ; tarsi f . 



Genus PYCNOPTILUS, Gould. 



Of this form only a single species is known, all the in- 

 formation respecting which will be found below. Although I 

 do not doubt that it is really an inhabitant of Australia, I 

 have no positive evidence on this point. The type specimen 

 is in the British Museum. 



Sp. 207. PYCNOPTILUS FLOCCOSUS, Gould. 



Downy Pycnoptilus. 



Pycnoptilus floccosus, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc, part xviii. pp. 95, 

 279. 



Pycnoptilus floccosus, Gould, Birds of Australia, fol.. Supplement, 

 pi. 



I know nothing of the habits and economy of this bird, 

 nor what part of Australia it inhabits. I purchased it of 

 Mr. Warwick, who had obtained it in a small collection of 

 birds said to have been formed in the interior of New South 

 Wales towards the river Morumbidgee. Judging from its 



