AccoMii of Observed Forms of Larynx. 



Vieillot, who first separated this genus from Lanitis, left it in the family of Shrikes, 

 Colluriones ; Cuvier never recognised the difference between them and Lanius, and 

 consequently put the Tliamnophili, again, as species of the genus Lanius, in the strict sense. 

 Swainson united ThamnopJi'ilus with some of the genus Lanius of the Old World in a 

 false sub-family TJiamnopJiilinae, in the family Laniadae, and in this Gray has followed 

 him. Prince Max von Neuwied is the only one who recognised the natural position 

 of this bird. According to him Thamnophihis has not the mode of life of Lanius, but 

 principally that of the lUfotherae, living not on the ground, but on branches of trees. 

 According to the same observer they are solitary peaceful birds, with a voice, in some 

 loud and very remarkable, and in others loud, but ordinary. 



Mi/iothera 111. The organ of voice of MfioUicra agrees exactly with that of Tham- 

 nopMlns, in the vibrating half-rings of the trachea, as well as in the lateral bands, and the 

 tracheal muscle; the single difference lies in the peculiarity of the musculiis sternotracltealis, 

 which has not two heads, as in Tliamnophihis, but arises from the strong portion of the 

 trachea. I examined li. margaritacea Licht. Mus. Berol. (Turdiis tintinnahulatus Gm.) 



The genera Thamnojahiliis and llyiothera are very closely related, both in external 

 and in internal characters, and belong to the same family Mi/iotlierinae, to which, in 

 our sense, only birds of the New World at present belong ; the two genera are however 

 very distinct in the covering of the foot, which has in Tliamnophilus two series of large 

 plates on its posterior face. 



Conopopharja Vieill. Conopopliaga stands nearest to the preceding genera ; the flat 

 membranous portion of the trachea with fine vibrating half-rings and lateral bands, is 

 again present, but the first two bronchial half-rings, while uniting with one another, and 

 with the last tracheal ring, begin to be more strongly developed. These two great 

 half-rings consequently lose their ordinary connection with the bronchi, and form the 

 lower limit of the tracheal organ of voice : the first half-ring of each bronchus is also 

 raised in a pyramidal manner, as we shall see still more markedly in the following genera. 



Conopophaga anrifa Vieill. has six fine vibrating half-rings of the membranous portion 

 of the trachea ; it is the only genus of the family in which I have found no true 

 laryngeal muscle. The miiscuhis sternotrachealis arises from the end of the firm part of 

 the trachea. 



Vieillot, Cuvier, Swainson, and Gray placed this genus with the Fly-catchers. 



Chatnaeza Vig. The first two rings of the bronchi are in this bird as large, and 

 as united as in Conopopliaga ; on the upper one there is placed a long sharply-ending 

 cartilage, which rises up at the sides of the tracheal organ of voice. It is the muscular 



