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PACHYRHYNCHUS, 



(A name which some erroneously have applied to 

 both), there is such a beautiful series of connecting 

 species, as to render it quite impossible to decide 

 where one group ends and the other begins; al- 

 though, if we look only to their typical examples, 

 the difference is very striking. Several of the large 

 Psari have a singular spurious quill, short and very 

 slender, the use of which is altogether unknown, 

 while in others the orbits and sides of the face are 

 bare of feathers ; it is by these nice but certain cha- 

 racteristics of species that we are able to distinguish 

 the different sorts, which are all coloured alike. 

 There are two or three birds even larger, which 

 may possibly come in the range of this sub-family ; 

 they are from New Holland, and form the genus 

 Sphecotheres of Yieillot ; the size is larger than a 

 thrush, and the bill is equally large and broad at 

 the base with Psaris, yet it is much more com- 

 pressed on the sides ; the under mandible is strong, 

 and there is a large naked space round the eyes ; 

 the wings, in general, are not unlike those of Psaris, 

 but the tail is much longer ; the feet are short and 

 remarkably strong, the nostrils quite bare, and the 

 rictus smooth. We confess, however, our belief, 

 that the true affinities of this genus are not to be 



