INSESSORES. 265 



Crown of the head, back of the neck, primaries and six 

 middle tail-feathers black ; three lateral tail-feathers on each 

 side black, with white tips ; lores, a broad mark over the eye, 

 ear-coverts, sides of the neck, scapularies, and upper tail- 

 coverts white ; throat white, bounded below with black, the 

 feathers lengthened and protuberant; chest and abdomen 

 light grey ; bill and feet lead-colour. 



Total length 5 J inches ; bill f ; wing 2f ; tail 2f . ; tarsi f . 



Family ? 



Genus GERYGONE, Gould. ^^/ 



The term Fsilopus was originally proposed by me for this 

 genus ; but that name having been previously employed, Ger^- 

 gone was substituted for it. 



Several species inhabit Australia, and others, I believe, New 

 Guinea and Polynesia. Their chief food consists of insects of 

 the most diminutive size, such as aphides, gnats, and mos- 

 quitos. The more thickly-billed species may probably feed 

 upon larger insects and their larvae. They mostly frequent 

 the thick umbrageous woods, where they flit about under the 

 canopy of the dense foliage, or sally forth into the open glade 

 like true Flycatchers. Their nests are of a domed form, 

 with the entrance near the top, some species protecting the 

 opening by constructing a projection above it like the peak of 

 a cap ; the eggs are generally four in number, and spotted 

 with red like those of the Maluri and Pari. 



All the members of the genus yet discovered are of small 

 size, unobtrusive in colour, sprightly in their movements, and 

 but little skilled in song. The sexes are similarly marked, 

 and but slightly differ in outward appearance. 



