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ON THE POSITION OF THE GENUS 

 EPHTHIANUBA. 



[By Col. W. V. Leg-ge, K.A., F.Z.S.] 



This singular and interesting genus, which is located by 

 Gould next to AcantUza, finds a place in the 7th Vol. of 

 Sharpe's " Catalogue of Birds," among the somewhat hetero- 

 geneous family of the Tinieliidw. This family is reserved 

 by the author for a large number of " Turdiform " birds 

 with hollow-shaped wings, many of which are allied in 

 some points to the thrushes, warblers, and fiy-catchers, but 

 cannot well be placed with them, owing to existing features 

 of dissimilarity. In the Catalogue, Uphthianura is associated 

 with Accentor, the typical species of which is the well-known 

 Hedge Sparrow of Europe, the two genera forming the group 

 Accentores. It is open to question whether either of these 

 genera should be placed on the Timeliidce, — they have neither 

 the external structure nor the habits of the typical members 

 of this family ; but the tendency of the author of the " Cata- 

 logue of Birds " has been to relegate to this family any bird 

 which cannot well be placed elsewhere in the Turdiform sec- 

 tion of the Passeres, until it has become an unwieldy and 

 somewhat heterogeneous one. The position of Accentor 

 in this family has been unfavourably commented upon, and 

 I cannot but think that Uphthianura is equally out of place 

 in it. 



As a matter of fact, this is one of the most puzzling forms 

 in the whole list of Australian avifauna ; and to the cabinet 

 naturalist, who has not the advantage of observing its habits, 

 its true position must be very difficult to determine. Its 

 straight compressed bill, devoid of any notch at the tip, and 

 its somewhat lengthened and slender legs, with a moderately 

 long hind toe and claw, recall, to some extent, the pipits 

 and wagtails, to some of which latter birds its plumage has a 

 resemblance. The wing is, however, thrush-like, straight and 

 pointed, and with a diminutive first-primary, which at once 

 removes the bird from the 9-quilled Passeres, among which 

 the wagtails take their place. To determine, therefore, its 

 position among the 10-quilled Passeres, we must call to 

 our aid the testimony furnished by its habits. Its actions 

 and deportment, and its flight, in a small degree, are 

 chat-like. It frequents low ground in open places, and 

 perches on the tops of low bushes, or on a fence or mound, 

 from which it often gives forth its singular little note ; but 

 nevertheless there is wanting the motion of the tail, which is 

 a characteristic of the more-typical chats. Notwithstanding 

 the absence of this feature, however, it would seem to be 



