Order II. PASSERES. Tribe III. Dentibostres. Family I. Luscinid^f.. 



The seventh Subfamily, 



MOTACILLINiE, or Wagtails, 



have the Bill moderate, generally slender and straight, with the culmen curved at the end, and the 

 sides much compressed to the tip, which is emarginated ; the gonys long and ascendiug ; the Nostrils 

 lateral and placed in a small groove ; the Wings long and pointed ; the Tail more or less long, and 

 usually even ; the Tarsi long, slender, and covered in front with transverse scales ; the Toes more or 

 less long, the lateral ones unequal, and the outer slightly united ; the Claws long, slightly curved, and 

 acute, that of the hind toe sometimes very long. 



Lessonia Swains.* 



Bill moderate, rather slender, straight, and pointed, with the culmen straight to the tip, which is 

 emarginated, the lateral margins and gonys slightly ascending ; the nostrils lateral, placed in a groove, 

 with the opening anterior, oval, and partly clothed with the frontal plumes. Wings long and pointed ; 

 with the first and second quills equal, and as long as the fifth ; the third rather longer than the last, and, 

 as well as the second, pointed at the end ; the fourth the longest. Tail moderate, broad, and slightly 

 emarginated. Tarsi longer than the middle toe, slender, and covered by an almost undivided scale in 

 front. Toes rather short ; with the outer toe rather longer than the inner, and slightly united at the 

 base ; the hind toe moderate, and armed with a very long, rather curved, and acute claw. 



The single species of this genus is found on the humid plains and margins of rivers, on the elevated mountains of 

 South America. It is migratory, appearing in the warmest localities during the winter; and is usually observed on the 

 ground, whence it takes short rapid nights, and occasionally runs quickly after insects that fly near the surface of the 

 earth. It also feeds- on small worms and seeds. The nest is concealed amongst the stalks of herbage that grow on the 

 plains or on the margins of water courses. 



L. nigra (Bodd.) PL enl. 738. f. 2. — Alauda fulva Lath. ; 1 riegatus Gerv. <y Eyd. Mag. de Zool. 1836. Ois. t. 67- ; Alauda 

 Anthus sordidus Less. ; Lessonia erythronotus Swains. ; Anthus va- | rufa Less. ; Sylvia dorsalis King. 



Established by Mr. Swainson in 1831 (Fauna Boreali- Americana, p. 490.). 



