MENURINJS. 
Hylactes King.* 
Bill short and strong, with the culmen elevated at the base, much curved, and the sides ranch 
compressed to the tip, which is slightly emarginated ; the lateral margins slightly curved, and the gony s 
short and ascending ; the nostrils lateral, and placed in a short broad groove, with the opening concealed 
by a horny scale. Wings short and rounded, with the fourth and fifth quills equal and longest. 
rather short and rounded. Tarsi robust, as long as the middle toe, and covered in front with transverse 
broad scales. Toes long and very robust ; with the lateral toes nearly equal, theo uter toe united 
at the base, and the inner toe free ; the hind toe long and strong ; the claws very long, strong, slightly 
curved, and obtuse. 
The species of this genus are found on the west coast of South America, between 41° and 50° of south latitude. Th e f 
are known to he present in the forests or on the coast by their remarkable cry, which in one species has been comp al ' e 
to the barking of a small dog. Their extreme shyness causes them to hide continually in the bushes, although at 
they may be observed standing on the trunks of dead trees, with their tails erect over their backs. Insects and seed 5 ? 
which they seek for on the ground, form their chief food. They rarely take wing, and then only for a short dista» ce 
at a time. The nest is generally built among rotten sticks, close to the ground ; but sometimes it is placed in a de e P 
burrow, which they excavate in the ground. 
1. H. Tarnii King, Proc. Z. S. 1830. p. 15 Megalonyx rufi- Megalonyx rufus Less. Cent, tie Zool. t. 66. ; Leptonyx «> acr0pU 
ceps D' Orb., Voy. dans Ame'r. Me'r. Ois. t. 8. f. 1. Swains. Zool. 111. n. s. pi. 117. 
2. H. megapodivs (Kittl.) Me'm. de 1’Acad. St. Petersb. t. 4. — 
RHINOCRYPTA.f 
Bill moderate and strong, with the culmen gradually curved, and the sides compressed to the W’ 
which is slightly emarginated ; the lateral margins curved, and the gonys short and ascending i tl:& 
nostrils lateral, and placed in a short rather broad groove, with the opening entirely covered by » ^° rl J 
scale. Wings short and rounded, with the fourth and fifth quills equal and longest. Tail long, br ° a ’ 
and rounded. Tarsi moderate, longer than the middle toe, robust, and covered bv broad scales- ^ 
long and robust ; the outer toe longer than the inner one, and slightly united at the base ; the hm c 
short ; the claws rather long, slender, curved, and acute. 
The type of this genus is found in Chili, where it lives in the lower branches of the hedges or thickets, a 
alarmed, quickly hides among the foliage, and reappears in a fresh place at a little distance. It often utters 
and singular cry, and rarely takes to flight even amidst its greatest fears. 
R. lanceolata (D’Orb. & Lafr.) Voy. dans l’Amer. Mer. Ois. t. 7- f. 1., Mag. de Zool. 1832. Ois. t. 3., 
* Established by Capt. King in 1830 (Proc. Zool. Soc. 1830. p. 15.). Megalonyx of M. Lesson (1830) is synonymous. 
t This genus was originally established by MM. D’Orbigny and Isidore Geoffroy under the name of Rhinomya (1832), 
been previously used, was changed by me to the above in 1841. 
