

MENURIN^. 



Hylactes King.* 



Bill short and strong, with the culmen elevated at the base, much curved, and the sides much 

 compressed to the tip, which is slightly emarginated ; the lateral margins slightly curved, and the gonys 

 short and ascending ; the nostrils lateral, and placed in a short broad groove, with the opening concealed 

 by a horny scale. Wings short and rounded, with the fourth and fifth quills equal and longest. Tail 

 rather short and rounded. Tarsi robust, as long as the middle toe, and covered in front with transverse 

 broad scales. Toes long and very robust ; with the lateral toes nearly equal, theouter toe united 

 at the base, and the inner toe free ; the hind toe long and strong ; the claws very long, strong, slightly 

 curved, and obtuse. 



The species of this genus are found on the west coast of South America, between 41° and 50° of south latitude. They 

 are known to be present in the forests or on the coast by their remarkable cry, which in one species has been compared 

 to the barking of a small dog. Their extreme shyness causes them to hide continually in the bushes, although at times 

 they may be observed standing on the trunks of dead trees, with their tails erect over their backs. Insects and seeds, 

 which they seek for on the ground, form their chief food. They rarely take wing, and then only for a short distance 

 at a time. The nest is generally built among rotten sticks, close to the ground ; but sometimes it is placed in a deep 

 burrow, which they excavate in the ground. 



1. H. Tamil King, Proc. Z. S. 1830. p. 15. — Megalonyx rufi- 

 ceps D' Orb., Voy. dans Amer. Mer. Ois. t. 8. f. 1. 



2. H. megapodius (Kittl.) Mem. de l'Acad. St. Petersb. t. 4. — 



Megalonyx rufus Less. Cent, de Zool. t. 66. ; Leptonyx macropus 

 Zool. 111. n. s. pi. 117. 



RHINOCRYPTA.f 



Bill moderate and strong, Avith the culmen gradually curved, and the sides compressed to the tip, 

 which is slightly emarginated ; the lateral margins curved, and the gonys short and ascending ; the 

 nostrils lateral, and placed in a short rather broad groove, with the opening entirely covered by a horny 

 scale. Wings short and rounded, with the fourth and fifth quills equal and longest. Tail long, broad, 

 and rounded. Tarsi moderate, longer than the middle toe, robust, and covered by broad scales. Toes 

 long and robust ; the outer toe longer than the inner one, and slightly united at the base ; the hind toe 

 short ; the claws rather long, slender, curved, and acute. 



The type of this genus is found in Chili, where it lives in the lower branches of the hedges or thickets, and, if 

 alarmed, quickly hides among the foliage, and reappears in a fresh place at a little distance. It often utters a loud 

 and singular cry, and rarely takes to flight even amidst its greatest fears. 



R. lanceolata (D'Orb. & Lafr.) Voy. dans l'Amer. Mer. Ois. t. 7- f. 1., Mag. de Zool. 1832. Ois. t. 3., Buffi Compl. Ois. t. 26. f. 2. 



* Established by Capt. King in 1830 {Proc. Zool. Soc. 1830. p. 15.). Megalonyx of M. Lesson (1830) is synonymous, 

 t This genus was originally established by MM. D'Orbigny and Isidore Geoffroy under the name of Rhinomya (1832), which, having 

 been previously used, was changed by me to the above in 1841. 



