ERYTHACIN.E. 



Thamnobia Swains* 



Bill slender, rather curved, with the culmen curved from the base to the tip, which is acute and entire ; 

 the lateral margins curved and inflexed, and the gonys moderate and straight; the nostrils basal, 

 lateral, and sunk in a membranous groove, with the opening small and rounded. Wings short and 

 rounded, with the fourth and fifth quills the longest. Tail long, broad, and even. Tarsi slender, 

 much longer than the middle toe, and covered anteriorly with an entire scale. Toes short, the outer 

 rather longer than the inner, and united slightly at the base ; the claws short, compressed, and slightly 

 curved. 



It is in the southern portions of Africa, and the continent of India, that the species of this genus are found. Some 

 of the species are usually noticed in the bushes and woods, or on stony hills, but others are mostly observed about 

 villages, on high and old buildings, solitary, or in pairs, perched on the roofs, bushes, and trees, or examining the 

 verandas, houses, and even the ground, on which they exhibit great activity, frequently pursuing and capturing insects. 

 While thus engaged, they have the habit of jerking then - tails up and down over their backs. They possess a series of 

 pleasing notes which they pour forth while perched on the top of a wall or low tree. The nest is made on the ground, 

 under a thick bush : the female usually deposits four eggs. 



1. T. ptymatura (Vieill.) Swains. Le Vaill. Ois. d'Afr. t. 188. f. 

 2. — Thamnobia leucoptera Swains. 



2. T. rufiventris (Vieill.) Swains. Le Vaill. Ois. d'Afr. t. 188. f. 1. 



3. T. fulicata (Linn.) PL enl. 185. f. 1. — Turdus (Saxicoloides) 

 erythruvus Less. 



4. T. atrata Swains. Two Cent, and a Quart, p. 292. 



5. T. frontalis (Swains.) B. of W. Afr. p. 46 — Saxicola albifrons 

 Riipp. Syst. Uebers. &c. t. 1 7- 



6. T . ? cinnamomeiventris (Lafr.) Mag. de Zool. 1836. Ois. t. 

 55, 56. 



7. T. ? albiscapulata (Riipp.) Faun. Abyss. 1. 16. f. 1. 



8. T. melama (Riipp.) Faun. Abyss, t. 28. f. 2. 



9. ? T. albospecularis (Eyd. & Gerv.) Mag. de Zool. 1836. Ois. 

 t. 64, 6.5. 



Origma Gould.\ 



Bill moderate and slender, with the culmen curved, rather carinated, and the sides compressed to the 

 tip, which is emarginated ; the gonys long, rather ascending and angulated ; the nostrils basal, lateral, 

 and covered by a membranous scale. Wings moderate and rounded, with the fourth, fifth, and sixth 

 quills nearly equal and longest. Tail rather long, and rounded on the sides. Tarsi longer than the 

 middle toe, slender, and covered in front with slightly divided scales. Toes rather short, the outer toe 

 longer than the inner ; the hind toe moderate ; the upper surface of all strongly scutellated ; the 

 claws short, compressed, much curved, and acute. 



The bird on which this genus is founded is peculiar to Western Australia, where it lives in the deep rocky gullies, 

 examining the cavities and chasms, seeking various kinds of insects, which constitute its food. It is shy, wary, and 

 possesses a sharp and shrill note. 



O. rubricata (Lath.) G. R. Gray, Lewin's B. of N. H. pi. 16 Museicapa solitaria Lewin. 



* Mr. Swainson established this genus in 1831 {Faun. Bor. Amer. p. 489-). It is equal with Saxicoloides of M. Lesson (1837) 

 t Established by Mr. Gould in 1837 {Proc. Zool. Soc. 1837, p. 148.). 



May, 1846. 



