Order II. PASSERES, Tribe II. Tenuirostres, Family V. Certhim. 



The seventh. Subfamily, 



MENURIN^, or Wrens, 



have the Bill more or less long and slender, with the culmen usually slightly curved, and the sides 

 compressed to the tip, which is scarcely emarginated ; the Nostrils lateral, with the opening protected 

 by a horny scale or membrane : the Wings more or less short and rounded : the Tail of various lengths, 

 but generally rounded : the Tarsi more or less long and slender : the Toes generally long ; with the 

 outer toe longer than the inner, and slightly united at the base ; the hind toe long and strong : the 

 Claws long, and more or less curved. 



Menura Davis.* 



Bill moderate, strong, broad, and rather depressed at the base, with the culmen keeled, sloping, and 

 the sides compressed to the tip, which is emarginated ; the gonys short and ascending ; the nostrils 

 large, and placed in a sunken broad triangular groove, with the opening linear, and partly closed by a 

 membrane. Wings moderate and rounded ; with the sixth to the ninth quills equal and longest. Tail 

 very long, and of singular form, differing in the sexes. Tarsi much longer than the middle toe, robust, 

 and covered in front with broad scales. Toes long and strong ; the lateral ones nearly equal, the outer 

 toe united at the base, the inner free : the hind toe long and strong : the claws very long, strong, and 

 rather obtuse. 



The typical species which forms this genus is found in various parts of Australia. It inhabits in pairs the brushes on 

 the coast, and those that cover the sides of the mountains in the interior, and seems to prefer those that are the most 

 inaccessible and precipitous. It is difficult to observe their habits on account of their great shyness and caution, which 

 induce them to conceal themselves among the thick brushwood, although their loud and liquid calls are continually being- 

 heard amongst it. Sometimes, however, it has been noticed on the newly cut roads which have been formed through the 

 brushes, where, if disturbed, it will immediately leap upon a fallen trunk of a tree, and remain watching its enemy for 

 a short time, and then suddenly disappear ; or it runs at once rapidly into the underwood, where it is soon lost sight of- 

 " It possesses a singular habit," says Mr. Gould, " of forming small round hillocks, which are constantly visited during 

 the day, and upon which the male is continually trampling, at the same time erecting and spreading out his tail in the 

 most graceful manner, and uttering his various cries, sometimes pouring forth his natural notes, at others mocking those 

 of other birds, and even the howling of the native dog or dingo." The early morning and the evening are the periods 

 when it is most animated and active. Their food is procured by scratching among the fallen leaves, and consists of 

 various kinds of insects and small molluscous animals. " The nest is," remarks Mr. Gould, " placed on the edge of a 

 projecting rock, at the base of a tree, or on the top of a stump. It is deep and shaped like a basin, and had the appear- 

 ance of having been roofed; it is formed outwardly of sticks, and lined with the inner bark of trees and fibrous roots." 

 The eggs are supposed not to exceed two in number. 



M. superba Dav. Linn. Trans, vi. p. 207. pi- 22. — Menura I vulgaris Flem. ; M. paradisea Swains, ; Parkinsonius mirabilis 

 Lyra Shaw, Gal. des Ois. t. 192.; M. novas hollandije Lath.; M. | Bechst. Vieill. Ois. dor. t. 14, 15. 



* Established by Gen. Davis in 1800 {Linn. Trans, vi. p. 207.). Parkinsonius of M. Bechstein is synonymous. 



