MERULIDvE. 171 



black edged with green : the tail as in the male, but 

 the tips of a less brilliant hue. 



Independently of its brilliant plumage, this species 

 differs from its congeners in possessing the lobated 

 appendage at the base of the beak, and from its re- 

 sidence being on the western coast of Africa. May it 

 not rather belong to the following family of birds, 

 the Merulidae? 



FAMILY III.— MERULIDiE. 



Rostrum arcuatum, compy -essum, apice havd aduncum ; mandibula 



superior versus apicem subemarginatum ; pedes mediocres ; di- 



gitis tribus anticis, uno postico. 

 Beak arcuated, compressed, not hooked at the tip ; the upper 



mandible with a notch towards the tip ; the legs moderate, with 



three toes before and one behind. 



The Merulidae usually live npon insects and fruits, 

 and many upon berries : they construct their nests of 

 various materials, the typical groups, or true Thrushes, 

 frequently covering them externally with mud : others 

 suspend them from the branches of trees : some of 

 the groups are solitary, others gregarious. 



Amidst the indescribable confusion that reigns 

 throughout most of the Insessorial birds, and parti- 

 cularly so among those comprised in this and the fol- 

 lowing families, the attempt to arrive at any satisfac- 

 tory classification is utterly impossible ; but as some 

 farther information may be desirable respecting them 

 than is contained in the former volumes, I have en- 

 deavoured to arrange those genera which have been 

 proposed according to their natural affinities, and to 



