MALURINiE. 





Malurus Vieill* 



Bill very short, slightly depressed and broad at the base, and straight, with the culmen curved, and 

 the sides compressed to the tip, which is entire ; the gape furnished with short strong bristles ; the 

 nostrils basal, and placed in a membranous groove, with the opening longitudinal and exposed. Wings 

 very short ; with the first quill half the length of the second, and the fourth to the sixth equal and 

 longest. Tail more or less graduated, with the tips of the feathers broad and truncated. Tarsi as long 

 as the middle toe, and slender. Toes moderate ; Avith the inner toe shorter than the outer, which is 

 united at the base ; the hind toe rather long, and armed with a compressed curved claw. 



These elegant birds are peculiar to the continent of Australia, where they frequent open spaces which are scattered 

 with low brushwood or bushes, especially those that margin the rivers ; but on the approach of winter they fearlessly 

 seek the abode of man. They are usually observed on the ground in pairs or small flocks, with the tail erect over the 

 back, passing rapidly by a series of bounding hops over the surface while searching for their food, which consists of 

 various kinds of insects ; these they sometimes seek for off and beneath the fallen trunks of trees. Their flight is weak, 

 and only extended for a short distance at a time. The nest, which is formed in an oval shape with a small opening on 

 the side, is composed of grass, lined with feathers and hairs ; it is usually placed near the ground, in a low bush or tuft 

 of grass. The female deposits four eggs. 



1. M. cyaneus (Gmel.) Vieill. Lath. Gen. Syn. pi. 53., Gould, 

 Syn. B. of Austr. pi. . f. 3. — Motacilla superba Shaw, Nat- 

 Misc. pi. 10., Jard. and Selby, 111. Orn. pi. 72. f. 3., Gould, B. of 

 Austr. pi. 



2. M. longicaudus Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1837. P- 148., B. of 

 Austr. pi. 



3. M. pulcherrimus Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1844. p. 106., B. of 

 Austr. pi. 



4. M. elegans Gould, B. of Austr. pi. 



5. M. splendens (Quoy & Gaim.), Voy. de l'Astrol. Ois. t. 10. 

 f. 1. — Malurus pectoralis Gould, Syn. B. of Austr. pi. . f. ., B. 

 of Austr. pi. 



6. M. melanotus Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. J 840. p. 163., B. of 

 Austr. pi. 



7. M. LambertU Vig. & Horsf. Linn. Trans, xv. p. 221., B. of 

 Austr. pi. ., Jard. and Selby, 111. Orn. pi. 72. f. 2., Lewin, B. of 

 N. H. pi. 15. 



8. M. melanocephalus (Lath.) Vig. & Horsf. Lamb. Icon. ined. 

 iii. 38.— Sylvia dorsalis Lewin, B. N. H. pi. 16. ; Malurus Brownii 

 Jard. % Selby, 111. Orn. pi. 72. f. 1. 



9. M. Brownii Vig. & Horsf. Linn. Trans, xv. p. 223., Gould, 

 B. of Austr. pi. . — ■ Malurus cruentatus Gould. 



10. M. leucopterus (Quoy & Gaim.), Voy. de l'Uranie, Ois. t. 23. 

 f. 2. Gould, B. of Austr. pi. 



Stipiturus Less.f 



Bill short and slender, with the culmen gradually curved, and the sides compressed to the tip, which 

 is scarcely emarginated ; the gonys long and straight; the gape furnished with, long strong bristles; 

 the nostrils basal, and placed in a membranous groove, with the opening suboval and exposed. Wings 

 short and rounded ; with the third quill nearly as long as the fourth, fifth, and sixth, which are equal 

 and longest. Tail lengthened and much graduated, composed of six filiform shafts with decomposed 

 webs. Tarsi longer than the middle toe, slender, and covered in front with an entire scale. Toes 

 rather long and slender ; with the inner toe rather longer than the outer, which is slightly united at the 

 base ; the hind toe long, and armed with a strong claw. 



* Established by Vieillot in 1816. 



f Established by M. Lesson in 1831 (Tr. d'Ornith. p. 414.). 



