72 THE MUSCICAPIDJE. 



and this will always militate against every circular 

 arrangement. On the other hand, these gaps are hy 

 no means wide ; and although some of the primary 

 divisions contain very few species, one of the most 

 typical (Muscicapince) is remarkably perfect ; this is 

 peculiarly fortunate, in as much as it enables us to 

 test the accuracy of the remainder, and almost to 

 demonstrate, that however poor they may be in re- 

 gard to their contents, the sub -families themselves 

 are natural : these will now be explained under the 

 names of, 1. Querulince ; 2. Psariance ; 3. Fluvi- 

 colince; 4. Muscicapince ; 5. Eurylamince : the three 

 first constitute the aberrant group ; the fourth, the 

 sub-typical ; and the fifth, the typical. 



Of the QUERULIN^ we know but of two species, 

 and even these differ so much, that we are obliged 

 to consider them for the present as distinct types. 

 One, the most remarkable, is the Piauhau chatterer 

 of Le Vaillant, and it now forms the type of the 

 genus 



QUERULA. 



LinnaBUS and Brisson considered it as a flycatcher, 

 on account of the stiff bristles of the mouth, but 

 in all other respects this bird gives us the idea of a 

 large strong billed chatterer. It is near twice the size 

 of a thrush, measuring eleven inches ; entirely black, 

 except under the throat of the male, where the fea- 

 thers are deep red and glossy ; the bill is large, very 

 strong, but considerably depressed, while the bristles, 



