MALUKIN^. 



Sphenura Licht* 



Bill moderate, with the culmen gradually sloping, and the sides compressed to the tip, which is 

 emarginated and hooked ; the gonys long and ascending ; the gape furnished with two or four strong 

 prominent bristles ; the nostrils basal, and pierced in a broad membranous groove, partly clothed with 

 plumes, with the opening covered by a membranous scale. Wings short and rounded, with the fifth to 

 the seventh quills equal and longest. Tail lengthened and graduated. Tarsi rather longer than the 

 middle toe, strong, and covered in front with broad scales. Toes long and strong ; with the lateral toes 

 equal, and the outer toe united at its base ; the hind toe long, and armed with a long curved claw. 



The species belonging to this genus are inhabitants of various parts of Australia. They frequent the overgrown reed 

 beds and thickets, in the midst of which they swiftly run over the ground, having at the same time their tails erect over 

 their backs ; and it is in such places that they seek their food, which consists of insects. Their flight is heavy and 

 very limited ; and they are sometimes observed perched on the tops of a scrub, emitting at the same time a series of 

 extremely varied loud notes. These birds form a rather large globular nest of grass, with an entrance on one side ; and 

 the female deposits two eggs therein. 



1. S. brachyptera (Lath.) Licht. Lamb. Icon. ined. ii. 32. — 

 Malurus pectoralis Steph. ; Dasyornis australis Fig. Sj Horsf, Jard. 

 and Selby, 111. Orn. pi. 73., Gould, B. of Austr. pi. 



2. S. longirostris (Gould), Proc. Z. S. 1840. p. 170., B. of 

 Austr. pi. 



3. S. ? brunnea (Gould), Proc. Z. S. 1837. p. ISO. 



Chjstornis. 



Bill moderate and strong, with the culmen arched, and the sides much compressed to the tip, which is 

 slightly emarginated ; the gonys short and ascending ; the gape furnished with four or five strong 

 bristles ; the nostrils basal, and placed in a membranous groove, which is partly clothed with plumes, 

 with the opening oval and exposed. Wings rather short, and rounded ; with the first quill half the 

 length of the third ; the second nearly as long as the three next, which are equal and longest. Tail 

 lengthened, broad, and rounded. Tarsi rather shorter than the middle toe, strong, and covered with an 

 almost entire scale in front. Toes lengthened and slender ; the outer toe shorter than the inner, and 

 slightly united at the base ; the hind toe long, strong, and armed with a long, nearly straight, and acute 

 claw. 



The species that compose this genus are found in India. 



1. C. striata (Jerd.) Madr. Joum. Lit. & Sci. 1841. p. 198.— I 2. C. collurioceps (Blyth), Journ. A. S. B. 1842. p. 603. 

 Dasyornis locustelloi'des Blyth. 



* Established by Professor Lichtenstein in 1823 (Cat. Dupl. Berl. Mus. p. 40.). Dasyornis of Vigors and Dr. Horsfield (1826) ii 

 synonymous. 



