MALURINJE. 
Sphenura Licht.* 
Bill moderate, with the culrnen gradually sloping, and the sides compressed to the tip, which is 
e »iargi na ted and hooked ; the gonys long and ascending ; the gape furnished with two or four strong 
Imminent bristles ; the nostrils basal, and pierced in a broad membranous groove, partly clothed with 
Paines, with the opening covered by a membranous scale. Wings short and rounded, with the fifth to 
tlle se venth quills equal and longest. Tail lengthened and graduated. Tarsi leather longer than the 
l ddle toe, strong, and covered in front with broad scales. Toes long and strong ; with the lateral toes 
c i Ud l, and the outer toe united at its base ; the hind toe long, and armed with a long curved claw. 
Tl 
le s P e cies belonging to this genus are inhabitants of various parts of Australia. They frequent the overgrown reed 
} Ul ^ tickets, * n the midst of which they swiftly run over the ground, having at the same time their tails erect over 
Ver i- a . ’ :ln< i it is in such places that they seek their food, which consists of insects. Their flight is heavy and 
Cstr ’ an( l tlie y are sometimes observed perched on the tops of a scrub, emitting at the same time a series of 
the vai 'i e< i l° uc l notes. These birds form a rather large globular nest of grass, with an entrance on one side ; and 
e male deposits two eggs therein. 
^hldr ^ rac ^yptera (Lath.) Licht. Lamb. Icon. ined. ii. 32. — 
arii] g i! P ectora lis Steph.\ Dasyornis australis Fig. Horsf. Jard. 
y> 111. Orn. pi. 73., Gould, B. of Austr. pi. 
2. S. longirostris (Gould), Proc. Z. S. 1840. p. 170., B. of 
Austr. pi. 
3. S. ? brunnea (Gould), Proc. Z. S. 1837. p. 130. 
CHiETORNIS. 
Bill 
sli gbtK 
Moderate and strong, with the culrnen arched, and the sides much compressed to the tip, which is 
^ . y eniarginated ; the gonys short and ascending; the gape furnished with four or five strong 
^itl ' t lG nostr ^ s basal, and placed in a membranous groove, which is partly clothed with plumes, 
leu ,^ U ' °P en * n g °val and exposed. Wings rather short, and rounded ; with the first quill half the 
lsncr(.j 
GC ’ ^ roa< ^’ anc l rounded. Tarsi rather shorter than the middle toe, strong, and covered with an 
S ]'^l ^ eil ^ u ' e scale in front. Toes lengthened and slender ; the outer toe shorter than the inner, and 
“ Ull lted at the base ; the hind toe long, strong, and armed with a long, nearly straight, and acute 
1 the third ; the second nearly as long as the three next, which are equal and longest. Tail 
( Jerd -) Madr. Journ. Lit. & Sci. 1841. p. 198. 
kcustello'ides Blyth. 
The species that compose this genus are found in India. 
2. C. collarioceps (Blyth), Journ. A. S. B. 1842. p. 603. 
^'^ytnous^ 1 b y Professor Lichtenstein in 1823 (Cat. Dupt. Berl. Mus. p. 40.). Dasyornis of Vigors and Dr. Horsfield (1826) is 
