MOTACILLINjE. 





Ephthianura Gould.* 



Bill moderate, rather depressed, and straight, with the culmen only curved near the tip, which is 

 emarginated, the lateral margin straight and indexed, the gonys moderate and ascending ; the nostrils 

 lateral, placed in a broad groove, with the opening covered by a membranous scale. Wings moderate ; 

 with the first quill very short ; the second nearly as long as the third, fourth, and fifth, which are equal 

 and longest. Tail rather short, and even. Tarsi longer than the middle toe, and covered in front with 

 transverse scales. Toes rather short ; with the outer toe longer than the inner, and free at its base ; the 

 hind toe long, and armed with a long, slightly curved, and acute claw. 



These hirds are peculiar to Australia, where, says Mr. Gould, they are found in small flocks on the plains. They 

 usually resort to the ground, perching frequently either on the summit of a stone, or on the extremity of a dead and 

 leafless branch ; and are capable of moving over the surface of the ground with amazing quickness, with a motion that 

 can neither be described as a hop nor as a run, but something between the two, accompanied by a bobbing action of the 

 tail. 



1. E. albifrons (Jard. & Selby), Gould, Jard. & Selby, Illustr. 

 Orn. pi. 56. — Fluvicola leucocephala Less. ; Cinura torquata 

 Brehm, Gould, B. of Austr. pi. 



2. E. aurifrons Gould, Proc. Z. S. 1837. p. 148., B. of Austr. 

 1. 



3. E. tricolor Gould, Proc. Z. S. 1837. p. 159., B. of Austr. pi. 



pi. 



An thus Bechst.-f 



Bill more or less straight and slender, with the culmen almost straight, or slightly curved, and the 

 sides compressed to the tip, which is emai'ginated, the lateral margins straight and inflexed, the gonys 

 long and ascending ; the nostrils lateral, placed in a short broad groove, with the opening rounded and 

 partly closed by a membrane. Wings moderate, with the first three quills equal and longest. Tail 

 moderate, and emarginated. Tarsi longer than the middle toe, rather slender, and covered in front with 

 broad transverse scales. Toes long, and rather slender ; with the lateral toes equal, and the outer one 

 slightly united at its base ; the hind toe long : the claws of the anterior toes rather short and curved, 

 and that of the hind toe very long and acute. 



These birds inhabit most parts of the world ; some are more usually found on the rocky and open places near the 

 sea-shore, while others prefer the mountains, heaths, marshes, and open cultivated places. Some species are migratory, 

 proceeding northwards for the summer months, and returning to the temperate parts for the whiter ; while others remain 

 stationary throughout the year. They usually frequent the ground, on which they run with rapidity, and often take 

 short jerking flights, capturing their food, which consists of small insects, larvte, and worms. During the spring of the 

 year these birds rise with a tremulous and rapid motion of the wings to a great elevation in the air, and then commence 

 their song ; descending afterwards with motionless wings and expanded tail, in a gradually slanting direction, towards the 



* Mr. Gould established this genus in 3 837. Cinura of M. Brehm (1844) is synonymous. 



t This genus was established in 1802 by Bechstein (Naturg. Deutsch.). Spipola of Leach (1816), Corydalla of Vigors (1825), 

 Pipastes and Leimoniptera of Dr. Kaup (1S2Q), and Agrodroma and Macronyx of Mr. Swainson (1837) are synonymous. 



