SYLVIAD^. 2^3 



the neck, dusky-ash colour, deepest on the forehead, 

 and about the eyes : back and rump dusky-ash : nape, 

 sides of the neck, breast, and flanks paler in colour, 

 inclining to rufous on the thighs : middle of the belly 

 white, tinged with vinaceous : wings and tail dusky ; 

 the outer feathers of the latter edged with white : legs 

 yellowish. The female has the plumage of a lighter 

 colour, and is dusky-ash between the beak and eye. 



GENUS CVI.— MALURUS, Vieillot. SOFT-TAIL. 



Rostrum gracillimum, rec- 

 tum, integrum, brevissi- 

 mum ; mahdibida superior 

 vix arcuata. 



Nares basales, laterales. 



Rictus ciliatus. 



Tarsi gracillimi. 



Digiti exteriores ad articu- 

 1am secundam connexi. 



Ales brevissimae, rotundatae. 



Cauda longissima, gracilis. 



Beak very slender, straight, 

 entire, short; the upper 

 mandible scarcely arched. 



Nostrils basal, lateral. 

 Gape ciliated. 

 Tarsi very slender. 

 Outer toes united to the se- 

 cond joint. 

 Wings very short, rounded. 

 Tail very long, slender. 



These birds inhabit the old world and Australasia : 

 they construct their nest with great ingenuity, of 

 cotton and other filamentous materials. 



Sp. 1 . Ma. cyaneus. 



Sylvia cyanea. Steph, v, x. p. 754. pL 58. — Van Dieman's 

 Land. 



Sp. 2. Ma. galactotes. Temm. PL Col. 65./. 1. 



Ma. rufo-cinereus, strigis latis longitudinalibus nigris notatis ; 



injra cdbido-isabelliniis ; guld albd; rectricibus, duabus viediis 



exceptis, macula nigra versus apicem. 



