/ 



FURNAPJM. 



It is on the reedy and marshy borders of the South American lakes that these birds are found. They often alight, 

 says Mr. Darwin, vertically on the stems of plants, but in climbing they do not use their tails. 



1. L. curvirostris Gould, Voy. of Beagle, Birds, p. 81. pi. 25. 3. L. unirufus Lafr. Rev. Zool. 1840. p. 105. 



2. L. rectirostris Gould, Voy. of Beagle, Birds, p. 80. pi. 24. 4. L. canifrons Lafr. Rev. Zool. 1840. p. 105. 



Geositta Swains.* 



Bill long, slender, much compressed on the sides, with the culmen slightly curved at the tip, which is 

 entire ; the nostrils lateral, basal, placed in a nasal groove, with the opening partly closed by a membrane 

 and longitudinal. Wings lengthened, with the first quill nearly as long as the second, and the third 

 and fourth quills the longest. Tail short, broad, and even at its end. Tarsi much longer than the 

 middle toe, and covered in front with broad scales. Toes short, with the lateral ones unequal, the outer 

 the longest, and slightly united at its base, the hind toe as long as the middle toe, and armed with 

 long, slightly curved, and acute claws. 



These birds are found in many parts of the continent of South America, where they are usually seen on the dry open 

 sandy plains. They are tame and solitary birds, usually most active early in the morning and late in the evening, at 

 which time they are searching for their food, which consists of coleopterous insects. The nest of the typical species is 

 built, says Mr. Darwin, at the bottom of a narrow cylindrical hole, which extends horizontally to nearly six feet under 

 ground. The bird chooses a low bank of firm sandy soil, by the side of a road or stream. 



1. G. cunicularia (Vieill.) — Alauda flssirostra Kittl. Mem. de i 3. G. maritima (D'Orb. & Lafr.) Voy. dans l'Amer. Mer. Ois. 

 l'Acad. Petersb. 1835. t. 3. ; Geositta antho'ides Swains. Voy. dans t. 44. f. 1. 



l'Amer. Mer. Ois. t. 43. f. 1. 4. G. brevicauda (Swains.) Two Cent, and a Quart, p. 322. — 



2. G. tenuirostris (D'Orb. & Lafr.) Voy. dans l'Amer. Mer. Ois. Type of Geobates Swains. (1837). 

 t. 43. f. 2. 



ClNCLOCERTHIA-t 



Bill longer than the head, broad at the base, much compressed on the sides, with the culmen slightly 

 curved at the tip, which is entire ; the gonys long and straight ; the nostrils basal, lateral, with the 

 opening oval, and partly closed by a membrane. Wings rather short and rounded ; with the first quill 

 very short, and the fourth, fifth, and sixth quills nearly equal and longest. Tail moderate, and rounded 

 on the sides. Tarsi longer than the middle toe, robust, and scutellated in front. Toes long and slender, 

 with the lateral toes nearly equal, the outer united at its base ; the hind toe nearly equalling the length 

 of the middle toe ; the claws moderate, compressed, and much curved. 



The type of this division is peculiar to the West Indies, especially the Island of Jamaica. 



C. rufivauda (Gould), Proe. Z. S. 1835. p. 186. 



* It was in 1837 that Mr. Swainson established this genus (Class, of Birds, ii. p. 3 17-). It embraces Geobates of the same author, 

 (1837). 



f Originally established under the name of Stenorhynchus by Mr. Gould in 1835 ; but, this name having been previously employed, I 

 proposed the above appellation in 1840. 



February, 1846. 



