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 Caprimulgidcs, to 

 which succeed the CypselidcB or Swifts, the HirundinidcB or 

 Swallows, the Meropidcs or Bee-eaters, the Halcyonid(B or 

 Kingfishers, the members of that singular genus Artamus or 

 Wood Swallows, the Pardaloti, the Gj/mnorhince, Graucali, 

 Pachyce])hal(£, CoUuricincla, RhipidurcB, Gerygones, Petroicce, 

 Metiurce, PsojjJiodes, Maluri, AcantJiizce, CinclorJtamphi, 

 EstreldcB, CinclosomcB, Ptilinorhynchi, Sericulus, Orioli, Corco- 

 rax, Pomatorhini, Struthidea, the great family of MeliphayidcB 

 or Honey-eaters, the Cucidi, Climacteres, Ptilores, and SittellcB ; 

 followed by the cream of the Australian avifauna, the PsittacidcB 

 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. 



ramHy CAPRIMULGID^. 



The members of this group of birds inhabit nearly every 

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

 nor, I believe, in the Polynesian Islands. 



Genus iEGOTHELES, Vigors and Horsfield. 



Two species of this singular form inhabit Australia ; one 

 its southern, the other its northern portions. They are 

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



