SCRUB-BIRD 821 
on the eastern side of Australia some other examples, which 
proved the existence of a second species, described by Mr. Ramsay 
(op. cit. 1866, pp. 438-440) as A. rufescens; but still no suspicion 
of the great divergence of the genus from the ordinary Passerine 
type was raised, and it was generally regarded as belonging to the 
Maluride or Australian Warblers. However, the peculiar forma- 
tion of the sternum in 4frichornis—as the genus has to be called, 
since Atrichia had long been preoccupied in zoology '—attracted 
the present writer’s attention almost as soon as that of 4. clamosa 
was exhibited in the museum of the College of Surgeons, and at 
ATRICHORNIS CLAMOSA. (After Gould.) 
his request Mr. Ramsay a little later sent to the museum of the 
University of Cambridge examples in spirit of 4. rufescens, which 
shewed a similar structure. The Scrub-birds were consequently 
declared in 1875 (Encyclop. Brit. ed. 9, iii. p. 741) to form a distinct 
Family, Atrichiidx, standing, so far as was known, alone with the 
LYRE-BIRDS as “abnormal Passeres.”2 Much the same view was also 
taken by Garrod, who (Proc. Zool. Soc. 1876, pp. 516, 518, pl. lii. 
1 This fact seems to have been detected by Dr. Stejneger (Stand. Nat. Hist. 
iv. pp. 459, 462). 
* Mr. Sclater (Jbis, 1874, p. 191, note) remarked on the peculiar form of 
sternum ; but, writing doubtless from memory, ascribed to it two emarginations 
on each side of the posterior end, which it has not. The sternum is fairly 
figured and briefly described by Eyton in 1874 (Osfeol. Av. Suppl. ii. pl. 20, 
