PASSERIN/E. 187 



Amoiif^ those which have a thick and arched bill, may be particularized 



The King of the Aii+catchers {Turdus rex, Gm.; Con-m gvallarius, Shaw), which is larg'er than the others, also 

 the hij,-hest upon its lep^s, 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 BLish-Shrikes with similar bills. 



Such are Thamnophilus stellaris and Tii. viyuthermus, Spix, with various others. The M. leucophrys, Tem., 

 aUhough from Java, seems to approach this group; as does also Ih.c Brachipteryx inuniana,\\Qr&f., from the same 

 country, in the length of its limbs ; but its tad is longer in proportion, and beak more Hke 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. caiitans, Tem. Here should come M. Vieillot's genus Rhamphocencs. 



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 uf the Denflrostrcs. 



We may approximate to the Antcatchers 



Thb Orthonets {Orthrmy.r, Torn.), — 

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

 almost straight, and the tail-featliers 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 should also separate from the Thrushes 



The Dippers {Ciuclm, Bechstein ; Uijdrohata, Vieillot), — 

 Wherein the beak is eompressed and straight, with both mandiljles of an equal height, nearly linear, 

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



One inhabits Europe, the \Miite-breasted Dipper ('Sturnus chiclus, Lin.: Turdus ««c?!4*, 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. Palla-ni, 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 ver>' similar to those of a Wren.] 



Africa, and the eountries bordering on the Indian Ocean, supply a genus of Buds related to the 

 Thrushes, which I have named 



Philedons {P/iik'don, Cuv., comprising McUphaga, Lewin), — ■ 

 The beak of which is compressed, slightly arcuated throughout its length, and cmarginated 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 Cerfhla caruuculata. 

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

 stitute the Creadion of Vieiilut, "and certain of them the Anthoduera, Swainson." 



Others have portions of skin about the cheeks, divested of feathers, as the Merops phrygiuji 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 Nov<s Hollatidite of Brown, wherein the ear-feathers become frizzled, and descend 

 almost to the fore-part of the breast. 



Others again are destitute of any singidarity. " Those species in which the bill is long and slender, as CertMa 

 cucullata, Vieillot, compose the Myzomela, Swainson." 



The Minas {Eulahes, Cuv.) — 

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

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

 and below the cheek. 



Linnncus confounded two species under the name of GracuJa reUgio-sa. Tliat of India (£. ;«rf/e"^), 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.javanus) has a broader bill, more deeply cleft, also 

 more hooked at the end, and without emarginatiou : consequently, it should come after Co/rtm, Cuv. [a genus 



