PARING. 



1. C. novce seelandice (Gmel.) Lafr. Voy. Ereb. & Terr. Birds, 

 pi. 5. f. 1. — Parus urostigma Forst. Descr. Anim. p. 90., Icon, 

 ined. 166. 



2. C. maculicaudus G. R. Gray. — Parus zelandicus Quay $ 

 Gaim. Voy. de 1'Astrol. Ois. t. ii. f. 3. 



3. C. albicillus (Less.) G. R. Gray, Voy. de la Coqu. Zool. i. 

 p. 662. — Parus senilis Dubus, Bull. Acad. Sci. Brux. 1839- 297-, 

 Voy. Ereb. & Terr. Birds, pi. 5. f. 2. 



Sphenostoma Gould.* 



Bill short, higher than broad, and conic, with the culmen curved, and the sides much compressed to 

 the tip, which is entire, the gonys long and ascending ; the nostrils lateral, and placed in a short, broad 

 groove, with the opening round, and more or less exposed. Wings short and rounded ; with the fourth, 

 fifth, and sixth quills nearly equal and longest. Tail long and graduated. Tarsi as long as the middle 

 toe, strong, and the front covered with broad transverse scales. Toes rather long and strong, with the 

 lateral ones unequal, and the outer slightly united at its base ; the claws moderate, slightly curved, and 

 acute. 



This genus is only found on the low shrubby trees and bushes of the hot plains of the interior parts of Australia. 

 The habits and manners are at present unknown to naturalists. 



1. S. cristatum Gould, Syn. of B. of Austr. pi., B. of Austr. 



pi. 



2. S. leucopsis (Gould), Proc. Z. S. 1840. p. 175. — Type of 

 Xerophila Gould (1840). 



Parisoma Swains.-f 



Bill moderate, with the culmen curved, and the sides much compressed to the tip, which is emarginated, 

 the gonys rather short, and curved upwards ; the gape furnished with short bristles ; the nostrils 

 lateral, and placed in a broad groove, with the opening longitudinal, and partly closed by a membranous 

 scale. Wings moderate, with the fifth and sixth quills the longest. Tail rather long, broad, and 

 rounded. Tarsi longer than the middle toe, strong, and covered in front with broad transverse scales. 

 Toes rather long, with the lateral toes equal, and the outer slightly united at the base ; the hind toe long 

 and strong ; the claws strong, compressed, and acute. 



It is in Africa, both in the southern and northern portions of that vast continent, that this bird lives, in societies of 

 ten or more individuals, which are seen examining one after another all the branches of the trees, searching the cracks 

 in the bark and under the leaves for insects, their larva?, and eggs, which form their principal subsistence, and uttering 

 a slight chirping while flying from tree to tree. 



1. P. subcceruleum (Vieill.) Levaill. Ois. d'Afr. t. 126. — Pari- I 2. P. Galinieri Guer. Rev. Zool. 1843. p. 62. — Parisoma 

 soma rufiventer Swains. I frontale Rilpp. Uebers. Syst. t. 22. 



* Mr. Gould established this genus in 1837 (Proc. Zool. Soe. 1837. p. 149-). It embraces Xerophila of Mr. Gould (1840). 

 f Mr. Swainson established this genus in 1831 (Fauna Boreali- Americana, p. 490.). 



January, 1847. 



