94 



ALECTURA, 



which is a no less remarkable type ; three species 

 only are as yet known, and these are very singular 

 little birds ; their size is not bigger than that of a 

 robin, but their head is enormous from the quantity 

 of feathers upon the crown, while the tail, as already 

 remarked, is erect and compressed, very much like 

 that of the cock. The bill and feet are both large 

 in proportion, and give us such a miniature resem- 

 blance of those members in Gubernetes, that no 

 doubt can exist on the close affinity of the two 

 genera ; for although, if our views are correct, they 

 do not stand in the same circle, yet, as they form 

 a union between both, their separation is only no- 

 minal. These " little cocks," as Azara calls them, 

 seem in their habits to be true water-chats, fre- 

 quenting the open and humid sides of savannahs, 

 where they search upon the ground for insects ; oc- 

 casionally, however, they exhibit a slight indication 

 of the habits of the true flycatchers, by perching 

 upon reeds or very low shrubs (never on trees), and 

 catching insects as they fly near its station. It de- 

 serves to be noticed, that Azara, a decided oppo- 

 nent of technical systems, was yet too well versed 

 in natural groups to confound these birds with the 



