Order II. PASSERES, 
Tribe II. Tenuirostres. 
Family Y. Cbrthid^e. 
The seventh Subfamily, 
MENURINYE, or Wrens, 
ave ^e Bill more or less long and slender, with the culmen usually slightly curved, and the sides 
^°ttipressed to the tip, which is scarcely emarginated ; the Nostrils lateral, with the opening protected 
^ a Torny scale or membrane : the Wings more or less short and rounded: the Tail of various lengths, 
generally rounded : the Tarsi more or less long and slender : the Toes generally long ; with the 
^tei toe longer than the inner, and slightly united at the base ; the hind toe long and strong : the 
a ' Vs ^ on g, and more or less curved. 
Cl; 
Menura Davis.* 
Sill 
the 
moderate, strong, broad, and rather depressed at the base, with the culmen keeled, sloping, and 
j 8l hes compressed to the tip, which is emarginated ; the gonys short and ascending ; the nostrils 
1 *°> an d placed in a sunken broad triangular groove, with the opening linear, and partly closed by a 
mrane. Wings moderate and rounded ; with the sixth to the ninth quills equal and longest. Tail 
ei y long, and of singular form, differing in the sexes. Tarsi much longer than the middle toe, robust, 
P 0 7 0 
t ° Ve red in front with broad scales. Toes long and strong ; the lateral ones nearly equal, the outer 
° Uni ted at the base, the inner free : the hind toe long and strong : the claws very long, strong, and 
^ obtuse. 
tl lc ° typical species which forms this genus is found in various parts of Australia. It inhabits in pairs the brushes on 
ina c ° a ^ an, l those that cover the sides of the mountains in the interior, and seems to prefer those that are the most 
indues an< ^ P re °ipitous. It is difficult to observe their habits on account of their great shyness and caution, which 
l)o ;u . ( | ( " <bt ‘ m to conceal themselves among the thick brushwood, although their loud and liquid calls are continually being 
b rus] lt U " 10Ug3t Sometimes, however, it has been noticed on the newly cut roads which have been formed through the 
a gjj S * * ler c, if disturbed, it will immediately leap upon a fallen trunk of a tree, and remain watching its enemy for 
“ q Ullle ’ a nd then suddenly disappear ; or it runs at once rapidly into the underwood, where it is soon lost sight of- 
the <| n Sesses a singular habit,” says Mr. Gould, “ of forming small round hillocks, which are constantly visited during 
aiost ,,, 5 a,U ^ upon which the male is continually trampling, at the same time erecting and spreading out his tail in the 
of otl^ manner, and uttering his various cries, sometimes pouring forth his natural notes, at others mocking those 
' v hen q . J ’ r< l s 3 and even the howling of the native dog or dingo.” The early morning and the evening are the periods 
i*! 1 ^° s ^ a,| iniated and active. Their food is procured by scratching among the fallen leaves, and consists of 
Pro! 
l 0115 * kinds of 
latino- 
insects and small molluscous animals. “ The nest is,” remarks Mr. Gould, “ placed on the edge of a 
a Hce 0 f 1 ,° cb "’ a t the base of a tree, or on the top of a stump. It is deep and shaped like a basin, and had the appear- 
Tfe been roofed; it is formed outwardly of sticks, and lined with the inner bark of trees and fibrous roots.” 
aie supposed not to exceed two in number. 
Y 
Shaw c '* aV ' binn. Trans, vi. p. 207. pi. 22 Menura 
‘ UaI - de s Ois. t. 192. ; M. 
novffi hollandi® Lath . ; M. 
vulgaris Flem . ; M. paradisea Swains. ; Parkinsonius mirabilis 
Bechst. Vieill. Ois. dor. t. 14, 15. 
Established by Gen. Davis in 1800 (Linn. Trans, vi. p. 207.). Parkinsonius of M. Bechstein is synonymous. 
