1B8 Div. 1. VERTEBRATE ANIMALS.— AVES. Class 2. 



the forehead, occupying the site of the frontal feathers, — laterally compressed, and emarginated. The 

 nostrils, small and linear, are not surrounded by a membranous space. 



They are large birds of Australia and the neiglibourhig islands, which naturalists have arbitrarily dispersed in 

 several genera. They are said to be very noisy and ciamorous, and pursue small Birds : [are also docile, and 

 readily learn to whistle airs with remarkable power and execution]. 



The Chalybeans {Chalybceus, Cuv.) — 

 Have the beak similar to that of the Baritahs, e.^cept that it is rather less thick at the base, and the 

 nostrils are pierced in a large membranous space. The known species are indigenous to New Guinea, 

 and are remarkable for their fine tints, resembling burnished steel. 



The Paradisian Chalybean (C. paradiscetts, Cuv. ; Paradisaa viridis, Gm.). — ^The feathers on the head and neck 

 like curled velvet, which, together with the lustre of its hues, has caused it to be ranked among the Birds of 

 Paradise. 



The Tufted Chalybean (C cornutus. 111. ; Barita Keratidrenii, Lessop). — Two pointed tufts of feathers on the 

 occiput ; and the trachea forms three circles before it reaches the lungs.* 



The Psaras (Psaris, Cuv. ; Tetyra, Vieillot,) — 



Have a conical beak, very thick, and round at its base, but not extending backward upon the forehead ; 

 the point is slightly compressed and hooked. 



The species inhabit South America, and that best known is 



The Cayenne Psara (lyo«n<* cov«?»/*, Gm.), which is ash-coloured, with the head, wings, and tail, black. Its 

 manners resemble those of the Shrikes. There are many others. 



The Choucaris {Graucalus, Cuv.) — 



Have the bill less compressed than in the Shrikes, the ridges of its upper mandible sharp, and regu- 

 larly arcuated throughout its length ; the commissure of the beak is slightly arched. The feathers 

 which sometimes cover the nostrils have occasioned them to have been approximated to the Crows, 

 but the emargination of the beak removes them from that genus [ .' ] 



They inhabit, like the Baritahs, the remotest parts of the Indian Ocean. Some have very brilliant plumage, and 

 compose the Pirola of Temminck, or Ptilonorhi/nchus, Kuhl, founded on the head-feathers being more like velvet. 

 Sphecotheres, Vieillot, only differs from the others in being rather more naked round the eyes. 



To the Choucaris may be approximated one of the most beautiful of the birds lately discovered in those regions, 

 the Coracias puella, Lath. ; Irena puel/a, Horsf. ; Drongo azure, Tem. ; a Javanese species, of a velvet black, the 

 back of which is of the most splendid ultramarine blue that can possibly be imagined. 



The Bethules (Bethylus, Cuv. ; Cissopus, Vieillot). 



The beak thick, short, uniformly bulging, and slightly compressed towards its tip. 



We know but of one, which has the form and colours of our common Magpie — (Laniut leverianus, Shaw ; 

 L. picatus, Latham). 



The Falconets {Falmnculus, Vieillot) — 



Have a compressed beak, almost as high as long, with the ridge of the upper mandible arcuated. [They 

 are merely Tits, with a somewhat shrike-like bill, and resemble our common Pari in their manners, 

 notes, nidification, eggs, and plumage]. 



The Crested Falconet {Laniiis frontatus, Latham).— Size of a Sparrow, and nearly the same colours as our com- 

 mon Great Tit : the coronal feathers of the male form a crest. It inhabits New Holland. [Some of the Malaconuti 

 are nearly allied.] 



The Pardalotes {Pardalotxis, Vieillot) — 



Have a short beak, slightly compressed, the upper mandible with a sharp arcuated ridge, and its tip 



emarginated. They are very small birds, with a short tail. 



Tlie best-known species (Pipra punctata, Shaw), is partly sprinkled with white, like an Amaduvat. From 

 New Holland, [where there are many others]. 



The Flycatchers {Muscicapa, Lin.) — 

 Have the beak horizontally depressed, and armed with bristles at its base, with the point more or less 

 decurved and emarginated. Their general habits are those of the Shrikes ; and, according to their size, 

 they prey on small Birds or Insects. The most feeble of them pass by insensible gradations into the 

 slender-billed warblers. We divide them as follow. 



* This is the only modification of the tradien we hiive iiearri of nmong the Pfiiserinee, — Ep. 



