RIFLEMAN. 465 



group. This iKirallellisni, however, is not more reinari<ablo or iuoxpiicablo tlian the 

 wi'll-lcnowii isonwriihisiii of some marsupials and placental nianinials, and 'tenui- 

 rostral,' or ' conirostral' Clamatores are not stranger than marsupial 'Caniivora' or 

 ' Koilentia.' 



It was not until 1882 that the Xenicid.* were shown to be mesouiyodic, and, 

 coiisc(jueiitIy, wore taken from the Oscinos, having formerly been placed alternately 

 in the families Cerlhiidie, Sittidje, Trogiodytida', and Sylviidje. In supjjort of their 

 present position amongst the clamatorial birds, I quote the following summary of their 

 characters as given by the late Professor Forbes, the discoverer of their true relation- 

 ship : — 



" Xknicus and Acanthisitta are true mesomyodian forms, and therefore in no 

 intimate degree related to such Oscines as Sitta, SitelUt, or otlier ' Certhiidip,' since 

 the syrinx has more of the complex nature of that organ in the Oscines, and there is 

 no other intrinsic syringeal muscle than the thin lateral tracheal, the position of 

 which is that characteristic of all the mesomyodian Passeres, resembling somewhat that 

 of Todus (hajilojihone). Externally the non-oscinine structure of their wings, which 

 have a 'first' (tenth) primary nearly as long as the following (preceding) one, and of 

 the tarsus, which is noii-bilaminate, is at once ajiparent. Ten rectrices. Xo trace 

 of plantar vinculum. Sternum has a single pair of posterior notches. Holorhinal. 

 Vomer broad and deeply emarginated anteriorly, the niaxillo-palatines slender and 

 recurved. Perhaps nearest to Pitticke, though diti'ering in many respects." 



The present family is restricted to New Zealand, the genus Acanthisitta, consisting 

 of one or possibly two species, showing some resemblance to the creej)ers, excejit for 

 the extremely short tail, while the two s]>ceies coni]iosing the genus Xenicus most 

 remarkably pereonate our small short-tailed wrens, but their colors show considerable 

 admixture of green. -Y^ longipes is strictly arboival in its habits, while J^. (jilinueii- 

 tri.t, according to Dr. Haast, is found in the high Southern Alps of New Zealand, ex- 

 clusively amongst the large taluses of debris high on the mountain sides. Instead of 

 flying away when frightened, or when stones are thrown at it, or even when shot at, 

 it hides itself among the angular debris. Acanthisitta chloris, known as the ' rifle- 

 man,' especially in its habits resembles the creeper, for it is said to be generally 

 seen ruiniing up the boles of the larger trees, often ascending sjjirally, prying into 

 every chink or crevice, and moving about with such celerity that it is rather difficult 

 for the collector to obtain a shot. 



From New Zealand to Madagascar is not so long a ste]), ornithologically speaking. 

 The PuiLEPiTTiD.fi form one of the most interesting forms of the latter island. They 

 have been knocked considerably about in the system, and Mr. R. H. Sliar]>e even ])ro- 

 posed to make them a sulvfamily under the birds-of-Paradisc, while A. Milne-Kdwards 

 placed them next to the Nectariniidae, but Forbes showed, a few years ago, that they 

 are mesomyodian with broncho-tracheal syrinx, though differing enough in detail to 

 justify their jiosition as a separate family. The most remarkable feature in reganl to 

 the intrinsic muscles is that at the lower insertion they are peculiarly expanded, 

 though not fixed to the ends of the bronchial semi-rings, which are peculiarly modified. 

 Of external characters we shall only call attentimi to the taxasiiidcan tarsi, the rather 

 long wing-coverts, and the short tail, a ])eculiarity which the Philepittce have in com- 

 mon with all the Old World forms of the present 8U])er-fainily. The male has a large 

 lobed and nakeil caruncle above the eyes, and both sexes possess a jicculiar jienicil- 

 lated tongue. Only two species of the genus Philepitta are known — f. castanea and 



VOL. IV. — 30 



