138 SEISURA. 



as every ornithologist knows, form the tenuirostral 

 type of the warblers ; and Seisura holds exactly the 

 same station in the genus Rkipidura. Such notes, 

 made by mere observers of the facts they commu- 

 nicate, are often of the first importance, because 

 they are framed without any reference to theories 

 or general laws, and thus become the best possible 

 evidence in support of a natural classification. 



DISHWASHER FANTAIL. 



Seisura volitans, HORSP. & VIGORS. 



PLATE XII. 



Above glossy blue-black ; beneath pure white, or tinged OB 

 the breast with fulvous. 



Turdus volitans, Latham, Ind. Ornith. Swppl. xli. No. 10. 

 Volatile Thrush, 11. Gen. Hist. Birds, v. 122. Seisura vo- 

 litans, Linn. Trans, xv. 250, 



ACCORDING to Mr. Caley, the colonists of New 

 South Wales call this bird the Dishwasher, but for 

 what precise reason does not appear. It is, observes 

 the same writer, " very curious in its actions. In 

 alighting on the stump of a tree it makes several 

 semicircular motions, spreading out its tail at the 

 same time, and making a loud noise, somewhat 



