

EKYTHACIM. 



hid in a mossy bank, among the roots of trees, or in holes of the rocks that are overgrown with ivy or other kinds of 

 plants. 



1. E. rubecula (hum.) Cuv. PI. en], S6l.f. 1., Gould, B. of , 2. E. Komadori (Temm.) PI. col. 570. 

 Eur. 98. — Rubecula familiaris Blyth. 3. E. Akahige (Temm.) PI. col. 571. 



Cyanecula Brehm.* 



Bill moderate, straight, and slender, with the culmen slightly curved, and the sides compressed to the 

 tip, which is acute and slightly emarginated ; the lateral margins straight ; the gonys long, and slightly 

 ascending ; the nostrils basal and lateral, with the opening exposed, and rather rounded. Wings 

 moderate, reaching to one third the length of the tail, and the third and fourth quills equal and longest. 

 Tail moderate and rounded. Tarsi slender, much longer than the middle toe, and covered in front by 

 an entire scale. Toes long, slender, with the outer one rather longer than the inner ; the hind toe long ; 

 the claws moderate, curved, and acute. 



The birds of this genus are peculiar to the Old World, where they reside on the borders of forests. Their food 

 consists of worms, insects, and their larva;. The nest is formed in holes of decayed trees. The eggs are usually six in 

 number. 



1. C. suecica (Linn.) PL enl. 36l. f. 2., Gould, B. of Eur. pi. 

 97. — Motacilla cserulecula Pall. Kittl. Kupf. Vog. t. 17. f. I. 



2. ? C.fastuosa (Less.) Rev. Zool. 1840. p. 266. 



3. C. Calliope (Linn.) — Turdus Camschatkensis Gmel. ; Calliope 

 Lathami Gould, B. of Eur. pi. 114., Kittl. Kupf. Vog. t. 17. f. 2. 



Petroica Szvains.-f 



Bill short, rather depressed, broad at the base, with the culmen slightly sloping to near the tip, which 

 is curved and slightly emarginated ; the sides gradually compressed ; the lateral margins nearly straight, 

 and the gonys long and straight ; the gape furnished with prominent bristles ; the nostrils basal, lateral, 

 and placed in a membranous groove, with the opening rounded or longitudinal, and partly concealed by 

 the projecting plumes. Wings reaching to half the length of the tail, with the first quill very short, the 

 second shorter than the third, which is rather shorter than the fourth and fifth, these are equal and 

 longest. Tail moderate and emarginated, or rounded on the sides. Tarsi slender, as long as, or longer 

 than, the middle toe, and covered in front with a long scale. Toes moderate, the outer longer than 

 the inner, and united at its base ; the hind toe long, rather strong ; the claws short, curved, and acute. 



These birds are found in most parts of Australia and in New Zealand. They seem to prefer the low bushes and 

 woods skirting the open plains, or such flats as are studded here and there with large trees, among the lower branches 

 of which, as well as on the ground beneath them, they may be observed darting about for insects of various kinds, in the 



* Established by M. Brehm in 1828. It is equal with Pandicilla (1833) of Mr. Blyth, and with Calliope (1836) of Mr. Gould. 

 + Established by Mr. Swainson in 1832. It embraces Erythrodryas (1842) of Mr. Gould, and Miro (1831) of M. Lesson. 

 4 T 



