BRACK YPTKRYGIXT. 177 



The species found in Sumatra and identified by Blyth with T. roberti 

 does not, according to Sharpe, appear to be the same. 



Habits, <3fc. Mr. Davison observes that these birds are generally 

 seen in pairs, occasionally three or four together, hopping about on 

 the ground or amongst the stems of the undergrowth only in the 

 densest portions of the forest. They are not shy and do not fly 

 unless very closely pressed. 



Subfamily BRACHYPTERYGIN^E. 



The subfamily Br achy pier ygina> forms a group of birds which, in 

 addition to possessing the general characters of the family, are 

 specially recognizable by their long legs and short tails. In habits 

 they are terrestrial, and nearly all of them are skulkers in thick 

 brushwood. 



This subfamily connects the Turdidce with the Crateropodidce. 

 Its members have still, in great measure, the habits of Thrushes, 

 but the young have emancipated themselves from the mottled 

 plumage. With two exceptions the adults have given up their 

 migratory habits, and the two sexes of many of them have the 

 plumage alike. The eggs of nearly all the species, so far as they 

 are known, are spotted. 



Key to the Genera. 



a. Tail much longer than tarsus. 



'. Tail but little graduated or nearly square, 



outer feathers falling short of tip of 



tail by less than half the length of 



tarsus. 



a" ' . Tail not less than twice the length of 



tarsus. 



a' ". Second primary equal to or exceed- 

 ing the longest secondaries. 

 a 4 . First primary longer than half the 



second . . .' MYIOPHGNEUS, p. 178. 



b*. First primary shorter than half the 



second LARVIYOBA, p. 181. 



V" . Second primary much shorter than 

 the longest secondaries. 



c 4 . Nostrils round ARRENGA, p. 183. 



rf 4 . Nostrils long ovals BRACHYPTERYX, p. 184. 



b". Tail much shorter than twice the length 



of tarsus DRYMOCHARES, p. 186. 



//. Tail greatly graduated, outer feathers fall- 

 ing short of tip of tail by as much as 

 length of tarsus. 

 c". Nostrils roundish ovals, pierced in the 



anterior corner of the membrane .... HODGSONIUS, p. 189. 

 d'\ Nostrils linear, pierced along the lower 



edge of the covering membrane ELAPHRORNIS, p. 190. 



VOL. I. -8 



