

FORMICARIN.E. 



23. P. melanocephala Forsten, Verli. Natuurl. Gesch. Nederl. 

 p. 19- 



24. P. atricapilla Mull. Verh. Natuurl. Gesch. Nederl. p. 19. 



25. P. . — Pitta malaccensis Mull. Verh. &c. p. 19. 



26. P. novce guinea Mull. — Pitta atricapilla Quoy $ Gaim. Voy. 

 de 1'Astrol. Ois. t. 8. f. 3. 



27. P. macrorhyncha Gray, Zool. Misc. p. 3. 



28. P. brevicauda (Bodd.) PI. enl. 89. — Pitta atricapilla Temm.; 

 P. melanocephala Wagl. ; P. philippensis Vieill. 



29. P. arvensis Gray, Griff. An. Kingd. i. pi. in p. 530. 



30. P. nipalensis Hodgs. Journ. A. S. B. 1837. p. 103. — Pitta 

 nuchalis Blyth ; Type of Paludicola Hodgs. (1837). 



31. P. cyanuroides Less. 



Philepitta /. Geoff r.* 



Bill nearly as long as the head, and rather broader than high, with the culmen gradually curved, 

 and the sides compressed to the tip, which is entire ; the gonys long and straight ; the nostrils lateral, 

 and placed in a broad membranous groove, with the opening somewhat oblique and linear. Wings 

 moderate. Tail very short and even. Tarsi as long as the middle toe, and covered in front with broad 

 transverse scales. Toes long and strong, with the outer toe longer than the inner, and united at the 

 base ; the hind toe long and strong ; the claws long, compressed, curved, and acute. The head is some- 

 times furnished with caruncles. 



The Island of Madagascar is the peculiar locality for the two species of this genus. Their habits and manners are at 

 present unknown. 



1. P. sericea I. Geoffr. Mag. de Zool. 1839. Ois. t. 8. 



2. P. Genffroyi O Des Murs, Rev. Zool. 1846. p. 241. 



Myiophonus Temm.-f 



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

 ginated ; the gonys long and ascending ; the nostrils lateral, placed in a short broad membranous groove, 

 with the opening anterior, rounded, and exposed. Wings long and rounded, with the fifth and sixth 

 quills equal and longest. Tail rather long and rounded. Tarsi very long, and covered in front with 

 an entire scale. Toes long, with the outer toe longer than the inner, and united at the base ; the hind 

 toe long and strong ; the claws rather long, strong, and much curved. 



It is in the jungles of India and Java that the species of this genus are observed, hopping about on the ground in 

 search of insects and worms, which constitute their chief food, but they occasionally feed on fruits and berries. If 

 seen on trees, it is usually on the lower branches, such as are only a few feet above the ground. 



1. H. favirostris (Horsf.) Vigors, Linn. Trans, xiii. p. 149.— i 3. M. Horsfieldii Vigors, Proc. Z. S. 1831. p. 3.5., Gould, Cent. 

 Myiophonus metallicus Temm. PI. col. 170. , of B. pi. 21. 



2. M. Temminckii Vigors, Proc. Z. S. 1831. p. 171., Gould, 1 4. M. cyaneus (Horsf.) Linn. Trans, xiii. p. 149. — Pitta glau- 

 Cent. of B. pi. 20. — Myiophonus nitidus Gray. I cina Temm. PI. col. 194. ; Type of Arrenga Less. (1831). 



* M. Isidore Geoffroy established this genus in 1838.' 



t It is uncertain at what date this genus was established by M. Temminck, but it is long prior to Arrenga and Myiophaga of M. Lesson 

 (1831), which are synonymous. 



