Australian Birds in the Collection of the Linncan Society. 329 



Pedes subfortes, subelongati ; acrotarsiis scutellatis, paratarsiis 

 integris. 



This form offers one of the greatest difficulties to the inves- 

 tioator of affinities. The birds that exhibit it are said to be 

 Honey-Eaters. This we much doubt. They are found among 

 the tlowers of the Eucalypti ; but this circumstance may arise as 

 well from their being in search of the insects abounding in these 

 flowers, as of the honey contained in them. It is strange that 

 we have never been able to examine a tongue of these birds, 

 although the skins are common. 'J'heir general appearance 

 indicates much of the Shrike. The strong bristles of the rictus 

 suggest the idea of their food being animal, and indeed originally 

 induced Dr. Latham to place them with the Linnean ]\fuscicapce. 

 The integrity of the margins of the bill, on the other hand, seems 

 to militate against this supposition. The extreme shortness and 

 roundness of the wing again, and the long and graduated tail, 

 are additional characters that demand consideration. In these 

 characters, as well as in the length and softness of the feathers 

 on the back, they approach the long-tailed American Thamno- 

 phili. On the whole these birds form an interesting object of 

 research to the naturalist, who may have the opportunity of de- 

 termining their exact station in the Order, by observation of 

 their habits and characters in their native country. Until these 

 points are ascertained, we leave them at the extremity of this 

 family, to which they are usually referred. 



1. Crepitans. Psoph. oUvaceo-brunneus, suhvirescens ; capite 

 cristato, jugulo pectoreque nigris ; tccniâ lata utrinque sub 

 oculos, rectiicumque apicibus albis ; abdomine albo-variegato, 

 femoribus rufescen tibus. 



Muscicapa crepitans. Lath. Ind. Orn. Supp. p. li. no. 10. 



Coach-whip Honey-Eater. Id. Gen. Hist. iv. p. 187. no. 43. 

 VOL. XV. 2 u Mr. 



