

Order II. PASSERES. Tribe III. Dentirostres. Family II. Turdice. 



The third Subfamily, 



TIMALINiE, or Babblers, 



have the Bill moderate, with the oilmen much curved, and the sides compressed to the tip, which is 

 generally entire, or only slightly emarginated ; the gonys long and ascending ; the nostrils basal, and 

 more or less exposed ; the Wings short and much rounded ; the Tail of various lengths, and graduated ; 

 the Tarsi lengthened, robust, and covered usually with an entire scale ; the Toes long, strong, and 

 strongly scutellated above ; the claws more or less long, compressed, and acute. 



Donacobius Swains.* 



Bill long, and rather slender, with the culmen gradually curved, and the sides compressed to the tip, 

 which is hooked and emarginated ; the lateral margins slightly curved, and the gonys long and rather 

 ascending ; the nostrils basal, sunk in a broad groove, with the opening large and exposed. Wings very 

 short and rounded ; with the fourth, fifth, and sixth quills equal and longest. Tail rather long, and 

 much rounded. Tarsi rather longer than the middle toe, robust, and covered with a slightly divided 

 scale. Toes rather long and strong, with the lateral toes equal, and the outer united at its base ; the 

 hind toe very long and strong : the claws moderate, curved, and very acute. 



It is in the warmer parts of South America that the species of this division are found, where they live, says Mr. 

 Swainson, in pairs in the swamps that are overgrown with reeds, on the branches of which they cling, moving their 

 body from one side to the other, at the same time expanding their tail, swelling out their throat, and incessantly 

 uttering a series of discordant notes. Their flight is very slow and feeble. They form a pensile nest among the 

 reeds. 



1. D. atricapillus (Linn.) Wagl. Pall. Spic, vi. t. 2. f. 2., PI. I 2. D. albolineatus D'Orb. et Lafr. Voy. clans Amer. Mer. Ois. 

 enl. 392. — Gracula longirostris Pall. ; Turdus brasiliensis et Oriolus 1. 12. f. 1. 

 japacani Omel. ; Mimus brasiliensis Pr. Neuw. ; T. pratensis 

 Vieill. Azara, No. 219. ; D- vociferans Swains. Zool. 111. n. s. pi. I 



27. 



* This division was originally established by Wagler in 1827, under the name of Cichla, which having been previously used, 1 have 

 adopted that proposed by Mr. Swainson in 1831, as given above. 



