l6l2 



THE PERCHING BIRDS 



Certain somewhat remarkable Australian birds, placed by Gould 

 e u in among the present family, may be conveniently noticed here, although 

 Claws their serial position is open to considerable doubt, and they are placed 

 by Dr. Sharpe with the Crateropodida . The genus, of which there 

 are several species, such as the spiny-tailed (Orthonyx spinicauda), and yellow- 

 headed straight-claw ( O. ochrocephalus) , is characterized by the short and straight 



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THE WAI,!, CREEPER. 

 (One-half natural size.) 



beak, in which the culmen is arched; the moderate and rounded wings, with the 

 first four quills graduated and shorter than the fifth; and the long tail, in which the 

 feathers are broad, and furnished with soft webs, but with stiff, rigid shafts, termi- 

 nating in naked points. The feet are very large and strong. Inhabiting South and 

 Eastern Australia, the common species frequents remote situations in the bush, 

 rapidly traversing the surface of moss-covered stones and the fallen trunks of trees 



