MALURIM. 



The typical species of this genus is peculiar to Australia ; frequenting the marshy districts clothed with tall rank 

 grass, in the midst of which this bird conceals itself, and among which it is capable of running with great swiftness, 

 carrying its tail erect over its back. Its flight is weak, and rarely employed ; and its food consists of insects, which it 

 seeks for among the herbage. The nest, which is concealed in a low bush or tuft of grass, is composed of grass, in the 

 form of a ball, with a long opening on the side, and lined with feathers. The eggs are three in number. 



S. malachurus (Lath.) Less. Lamb. Icon. ined. ii. 11., Leraill. I tris Vieill. Gould, B. of Austr. pi.; Malurus gularis Griff. An. 

 Ois. d'Afr. t. 130. f. 2., Linn. Trans, iy. pi. 21. — Malurus palus- ] Kingd. ii. pi. p. 39. 



Atrichia Gould.* 



Bill nearly as long as the head, broad, and elevated at the base, with the culmen sloping, and the sides 

 compressed to the tip, which is emarginated ; the gonys long and slightly ascending ; the gape not 

 furnished with bristles ; the nostrils basal, placed in a broad groove, and partly clothed with plumes, 

 with the opening covered by a large scale. Wings short and rounded, with the first three quills 

 graduated, and the fourth to the seventh nearly equal and longest. Tail lengthened, broad, and 

 graduated. Tarsi moderate, strong, and covered with broad scales. Toes moderate ; and the hind toe 

 long, strong, and armed with a long curved claw. 



The type of this genus is recorded by Mr. Gould as a resident among the dense thickets and tangled beds of dwarf 

 trees in Western Australia. It emits a noisy note, which gives notice of its existence in such places. 



A. clamosa Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1844. p. 2., B. of Austr. pi. 



Amytis Less.f ' 



Bill moderate, and rather elevated at the base, with the culmen curved, and the sides compressed to 

 the tip, which is hooked and emarginated ; the gonys long and ascending ; the gape furnished with three 

 or four moderately long bristles ; the nostrils basal, and placed in a broad groove, with the opening 

 exposed and rounded. Wings short and rounded, with the fourth to the sixth quills nearly equal and 

 longest. Tail very long, and graduated. Tarsi longer than the middle toe, robust, and broadly 

 scutellated. Toes rather long, strong ; with the outer longer than the inner, and united at its base ; the 

 hind toe long, strong, armed with a moderate compressed claw. 



It is in various parts of Australia that the species of this genus are found. They frequent in small flocks the plains 

 that are thinly covered with scrubs and clumps of a low shrub-like tree, amidst the branches of which they creep with 

 great quickness. While on the ground their progress is performed by a series of rapid hops, carrying at the same time 

 the head low and the tail erect over the back. The food of these birds consists chiefly of various kinds of insects. 



1. A. textilis (Quoy & Gaim.) Less. Zool. de l'Uranie, Ois. t. 23. j 2. A. striata (Gould), Proc. Z. S. 1839. P- 143., B. of Austr. pi. 

 f. 1., Gould, B. of Austr. pi., Less. Tr. d'Oin. t. 67. f. 2. 3. A. macroura Gould, Proc. Z. S. 1847. p. ., B. of Austr. pi. 



* Established by Mr. Gould in 1844 (Proc. Zool. Soc. 1844, p. 2.). 

 t Established by M. Lesson in 1831 (TV. d'Ornith. p. 453.). 



