xl 
INTRODUCTION. 
Genus Microeca, Gould. 
Generic characters. 
Bill shorter than the head, depressed, broad at the base ; gojiys straight ; curving downwards and slightly 
notched at the tip ; nostrils round, placed at the base of the bill, which is beset with strong bristles ; wings 
lengthened and powerful, first primary short, the third the longest ; tail rather short and nearly square ; tarsi mo- 
derate and feeble ; toes feeble, the external toe much longer than the internal one. 
Three species of this genus inhabit Australia, to which country they are confined. 
141. Microeca macroptera ............. Vol. II. PI. 93. 
Sylvia leucophcea, Lath. Gen. Hist. vol. vii. p. 139. 
142. Microeca assimilis, Gould. 
Microeca assimilis, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc, Part VIII. p. 172. 
All the upper surface broAvn, primaries dark brown ; tail brownish black ; the tips and the terminal half of the 
external margins of the two outer feathers white ; the three next on each side also tipped with white, the extent of 
the white becoming less upon each feather as they approach the centre of the tail ; the four middle feathers without 
the white tip ; throat, centre of the abdomen and under tail-coverts white, passing into pale brown on the sides of 
the chest and flanks ; irides reddish brown ; bill and feet blackish brown. 
Total length, 4f inches ; Ull, ; wings, 3f ; tail, 2^ ; tarsi, 
Inhabits Western Australia ; and is so nearly allied to the Microeca macroptera, from which it only differs in 
being much less in size and in having the base of the outer tail-feather brown, that I have not considered it neces- 
sary to figure it. 
143. Microeca flavigaster . .. . . . . , Vol. II. PL 94. 
Genus Monarcha, Vig. Sf Horsf. 
Several species of this genus occur in the Indian Islands and two in Australia. They are insectivorous birds, 
and procure their food by quietly hopping about among the branches of the trees. 
144. Monarcha carinata .............. Vol. II. PI. 95. 
145. Monarcha trivirgata . ... . . . . . . . . . Vol. II. PL 96. 
Genus Gerygone, Gould. 
Generic characters. 
Bill shorter than the head, swollen, notched at the tip ; commissure straight ; nostrils basal, lateral, oval ; 
rictus beset with two or three extremely fine and weak bristles ; iDings moderately long, first quill almost spurious, 
second long, third, fourth and fifth equal and longest ; tail rather short and square ; tarsi entire, slender, mode- 
rately long ; toes extremely short and small, the lateral toes even, and united to the middle one nearly to the first 
joint; cte(;5 much curved. 
The term Psilopus was originally proposed by me for this genus, but that name having been previously em- 
ployed, Gerygone was substituted for it. 
A group inhabiting every part of Australia, and probably New Guinea and Polynesia. Their chief food 
consists of insects of the most diminutive size, such as aphides, gnats and mosquitos. The more thickly-billed 
species may probably feed upon larger insects and their larvee. They mostly frequent the thick umbrageous woods, 
where they dart about for insects under the canopy of the dense foliage, or sally forth into the open glade like true 
Flycatchers. Their nests are of a domed form, with the entrance near the top, some species protecting the opening 
by constructing a projection above it like the eaves of a house ; the eggs are generally four in number,_and spotted 
with red like those of the Maluri and Pari. 
