rz 



PASS ERIN Jil. 187 



Among' those which have a thick and arched bill, may be particularized 



The King of the Antcatchers (Turdus rex, Gni. ; Corvus grallarius, Shaw), which is larger than the others, also 

 the highest upon its legs, and that which has the shortest tail : at the first glance it might be taken for a wader ; 

 its size is that of a Quail, and its grey plumage is elegantly barred across. This species lives more isolated than 

 the others. M. Vieillot has formed of it his genus Grallaria. 



The species with a straighter, but still tolerably strong beak, approximate the Bush-Shrikes with similar bills. 



Such are Thamnophilus stellaris and Tk. rm/otherinus, Spix, with various others. The M. leucoplirys. Tern., 

 although from Java, seems to approach this group ; as does also the Brachiipteryx montana, Horsf., from the same 

 country, in the length of its limbs ; but its tail is longer in proportion, and beak more like that of a Wheatear. 



Others have a sharp and slender bill, which, together with their barred tail, allies them to the Wrens. 



Such are Turdus bambla, Tem., and T. cantons, Tem. Here should come M. Vieillot's genus Rhamphocenes. 



We should replace among the Thrushes, however, numerous species that have been ranged with the Ant- 

 catchers. No group has been more overloaded with species that do not belong to it. At the same time, we must 

 confess that the present is not more rigorously defined than other divisions of the Dentirostres. 



We may approximate to the Antcatchers 



The Orthonets {Orthonyx, Tem.), — 

 Which have the beak of the Thrushes, but shorter and more slender ; their legs are long, the claws 

 almost straight, and the tail-feathers terminate in a stiff point, as in the Tree-creepers. 



[Tlie fact is, that the Antcatchers, Dippers, Wrens, Tree-creepers, and various other named subdivisions, are 

 merely modifications of the same ramus of the great Thrush group, which grade insensibly into each other in every 

 possible way.] 



We shoidd also separate from the Thrushes 



The Dippers (Cinclus, Bechstein ; Hydrobata, Vieillot), — 

 Wherein the beak is compressed and straight, with both mandibles of an equal height, nearlv linear, 

 and tapering towards the point, the upper but slightly arcuated. 



One inhabits Europe, the Wliite-breasted Dipper (titurnus cinclus, Lin. : Turdus cinclus, Lath.), which stands 

 rather high, and has a moderately short tail, therein approximating the Antcatchers. It is [blackish] brown, with 

 white throat and breast, and remarkable for its singular habit of immersing its whole body without swimming, 

 but walking about [in a jerking, fluttering manner] at the bottom of streams, in search of the small animals which 

 constitute its food. [At least two others have been ascertained, C. Pallasii, from Asia generally, and C. americana : 

 all of them frequent mountain torrents, and our native species generally builds its domed nest in the precipice 

 behind a water-fall, through which it plunges to and fro ; its actions are very similar to those of a Wren.] 



Africa, and the countries bordering on the Indian Ocean, supply a genus of Birds related to the 

 Thrushes, which I have named 



Philedons {Philedon, Cuv., comprising Meliphaya, Lewin), — 

 The beak of which is compressed, slightly arcuated throughout its length, and emarginated towards 

 the tip ; their nostrils are larger, and covered by a cartilaginous scale, and their tongue terminated 

 with a pencil of hairs. 



The species, generally remarkable for some peculiarity of conformation, have been distributed by authors in the 

 most various genera. [Their manners and actions, as observed in captivity, bear an exceedingly close resemblance 

 to those of the Starlings.] Some of them have fleshy caruncles at the base of the beak : as Certhia carunculaia. 

 Lath., which inhabits the Friendly Isles, and is stated to be a superb songster, with various others. These con- 

 stitute the Creadion of Vieilhit, "and certain of them the Anthoclucra, Swainson." 



Others have portions of skin about the cheeks, divested of feathers, as the Merops phrygius of Shaw, &c. 



In those even, which are every where completely feathered, some peculiar disposition of the plumage may be 

 observed : as in the Merops Nova Hollandite of Brown, wherein the ear-feathers become frizzled, and descend 

 almost to the fore-part of the breast. 



Others again are destitute of any singularity. " Tliose species in which the bill is Ion?- and slender, as Cerihia 

 cueullaia, Vieillot, compose the Myzomela, Swainson." 



The Minas {Euhbes, Cuv.) — 

 Approximate the Philedons. Their beak is nearly that of a Thrush ; tiieir nostrils round and smooth ; 

 and they are particularly distinguished by the broad strips of naked skin on each side of the occiput 

 and below the cheek. 



Linnaeus confounded two species under the name of Gracula religiosa. That of India (E. indicus), is the size 

 of a Blackbird, and glossy black, with a white spot near the base of the wing-primaries. Its feet, bill, and the 

 naked parts of its face are yellow. The Javanese species (E.jai;anus) has a broader bill, more deeply cleft, also 

 more hooked at the end, and without emargination : consequently, it shouhl come after Colaris, Cuv. [a genus 



