PASSERINtE. 
187 
Among’ those which have a thick and arched bill, may be particularized 
The King of the Antcatchers {Tiirdus rex, Gm. ; Corvus grallarius, Shaw), which is larger than the others, also 
the highest upon its legs, and that which has the shortest tail : at the first glance it might be taken for a wader ; 
its size is that of a Quail, and its grey plumage is elegantly barred across. This species lives more isolated than 
the others. M. Vieillot has formed of it his genus Grallaria. 
The species with a straighter, but still tolerably strong beak, approximate the Bush-Shrikes with similar bills. 
Such are ThamnopMlus stellaris and Th. myotherinus, Spix, with various others. The M. leucophrys, Tern., 
although from Java, seems to approach this group ; as does also the Brachypteryx montana, Horsf., from the same 
country, in the length of its limbs ; but its tail is longer in proportion, and beak more like that of a Wheatear. 
Others have a sharp and slender bill, which, together with their barred tail, allies them to the Wrens. 
Such are Tiirdus bambla, Tern., and T. cantans, Tern. Here should come M. Vieillot’s genus Rhamphocenes. 
We should replace among the Thrushes, however, numerous species that have been ranged with the Ant- 
catchers. No group has been more overloaded with species that do not belong to it. At the same time, we must 
confess that the present is not more rigorously defined than other divisions of the Dentirostres. 
We may approximate to the Antcatchers 
The Orthonets {Ortlionyx, Tem.), — 
Which have the beak of the Thrushes, but shorter and more slender ; their legs are long, the claws 
almost straight, and the tail-feathers terminate in a stiff point, as in the Tree-creepers. 
[The fact is, that the Antcatchers, Dippers, Wrens, Tree-creepers, and various other named subdivisions, are 
merely modifications of the same ramus of the great Thrush group, which grade insensibly into each other in every 
possible way.] 
W'e should also separate from the Thrushes 
The Dippers {Cinclus, Bechstein; Hydrobata, Vieillot), — 
Wherein the beak is compressed and straight, with both mandibles of an equal height, nearly linear, 
and tapering towards the point, the upper but slightly arcuated. 
One inhabits Europe, the White-breasted Dipper {ISturnus cinclus, Lin. : Turdus cinclus, Lath.), which stands 
rather high, and has a moderately short tail, therein approximating the Antcatchers. It is [blackish] brown, with 
white throat and breast, and remarkable for its singular habit of immersing its whole body without swimming, 
but walking about [in a jerking, fluttering manner] at the bottom of streams, in search of the small animals which 
constitute its food. [At least two others have been ascertained, C. Pallasii, from Asia generally, and C. americana: 
all of them frequent mountain torrents, and our native species generally builds its domed nest in the precipice 
behind a water-fall, through which it plunges to and fro ; its actions are very similar to those of a Wren.] 
Africa, and the countries bordering on the Indian Ocean, supply a genus of Birds related to the 
Thrushes, which I have named 
Philedons (Philedon, Cuv., comprising Meliphaga, Lewin), — 
The beak of which is compressed, slightly arcuated throughout its length, and emarginated towards 
the tip ; their nostrils are larger, and covered by a cartilaginous scale, and their tongue terminated 
with a pencil of hairs. 
The species, generally remarkable for some peculiarity of conformation, have been distributed by authors in the 
most various genera. [Their manners and actions, as observed in captivity, bear an exceedingly close resemblance 
to those of the Starlings.] Some of them have fleshy caruncles at the base of the beak : as Certhia carunculaia, 
Lath., which inhabits the Friendly Isles, and is stated to be a superb songster, with various others. These con- 
stitute the Creadion of Vieillot, “and certain of them the AnthocJicera, Swainson.” 
Others have portions of skin about the cheeks, divested of feathers, as the Merops phrygius of Shaw, &c. 
In those even, which are every where completely feathered, some peculiar disposition of the plumage may be 
observed : as in the Merops Novce Hollandice of Brown, wherein the ear-feathers become frizzled, and descend 
almost to the fore-part of the breast. 
Others again are destitute of any singularity. “ Those species in which the bill is long and slender, as Certhia 
cucullata, Vieillot, compose the Myzomela, Swainson.” 
The Minas {Eulabes, Cuv.) — 
Approximate the Philedons. Their beak is nearly that of a Thrush ; their nostrils round and smooth ; 
and they are particularly distinguished by the broad strips of naked skin on each side of the occiput 
and below the cheek. 
Linnaeus confounded two species under the name of Gracula religiosa. That of India {E. indicus), is the size 
of a Blackbird, and glossy black, with a white spot near the base of the wing-primaries. Its feet, bill, and the 
naked parts of its face are yellow. The Javanese species {E.javanus) has a broader bill, more deeply cleft, also 
more hooked at the end, and without emargination : consequently, it should come after Colaris, Cuv. [a genus 
