INSESSORES. 607 



tion of having a small orange-coloured spot just below the 

 ear-coverts, and by which she is at once distinguished from 

 the male. 



Genus ORTHONYX. 



Much difference of opinion has arisen among ornithologists 

 respecting the situation of this bird in systematic arrange- 

 ments, and as to what genus it is most nearly allied ; I regret 

 to say that not having seen much of the bird in a state of 

 nature, I am unable to clear up these disputed points. The 

 form is strictly Australian, and the single species known is 

 confined to the south-eastern part of the country. 



Sp. 372. ORTHONYX SPINICAUDUS, Temm. 



Spine-tailed Orthonyx. 



Orthonyx spinicaudus, Temm. PI. Col., 428 male, 429 female. 



temminckii, Vig. and Horsf. in Linn. Trans., vol. xv. p. 294. 



maculatus, Staph. Cont. of Shaw's Gen. Zool., vol. xiv. p. 186. 



Orthonyx spinicaudus, Gould, Birds of Australia, fol., vol. iv. 

 pi. 99. 



The Spine-tailed Orthonyx is very local in its habitat, being 

 entirely confined, so far as I have been enabled to ascertain, 

 to the brushes which skirt the southern and eastern coasts of 

 Australia, such as those at lUawarra, and in the neighbour- 

 hood of the rivers Manning, Clarence, and MacLeay. It is 

 usually found in the most retired situations running over the 

 prostrate logs of trees, large moss-covered stones, &c. I 

 ascertained by an examination of the stomach that the food 

 consists of insects, principally of the order Coleoptera, and 

 that the white throat distinguishes the male and the rufous 

 throat the female. 



M. Jules Verreaux, who has written a highly interesting 

 account of this bird, states that it is strictly terrestrial, and 

 scratches among the detritus and fallen leaves for its food. 



