M0TACILLIN7E. 
Muscisaxicola D'Orb. $ Lafr * 
Bill moderate, slightly depressed, and straight, with the culmen slightly curved, and the sides much com- 
pressed to the tip, which is emarginated, the lateral margins straight, and the gonys long and scarcely 
ascending; the nostrils lateral, oval, and partly concealed by the projecting plumes. Wings long, and 
pointed; with the first quill nearly as long as the second and third, which are equal and longest. Tail 
moderate, broad, and slightly emarginated. Tarsi longer than the middle toe, slender, and covered m 
front with transverse scales. Toes moderate ; with the outer toe somewhat longer than the inner, and 
slightly united at the base ; the hind toe rather short, and armed with a rather long curved claw. 
These birds are found in South America. “ They frequent,” says Mr. Darwin, “ the open places, as the sandy 
dunes, rocky coasts, and sea-beaches, or near the summits of the high mountains, where vegetation and other binb 
cease to occur. They are usually observed in very small flocks, hopping and flying from stone to stone, at the saffC 
time frequently jerking and spreading out their tail like a fan. Small insects form their chief subsistence.” 
1. M. rufivertex D’Orb. & Lafr. Syn. Av. p. 66., Voy. dans 
l’Amer. Mer. Ois. t. 40. f. 2. 
2. M. mentalis D’Orb. & Lafr. Syn. Av. p. 66., Voy. dans 
1’Amer. Mer. Ois. t. 40. f. 1. 
3. M. maculirostris D'Orb. & Lafr. Syn. Av. p. 66., Voy. dans 
i’Amer. Mer. Ois. t. 41. f. 2. 
4. M. striaticeps D'Orb. & Lafr. Syn. Av. p. 66., Voy. da° 
l’Amer. Mer. Ois. t. 41. f. 1. 
5. M. albifrons (Tschudi), Fauna Peruana, p. l6., Ois. • 
f. 2. 
6. M. Macloviana (Garn.) Voy. de la Coqu. Zool. i. P- d- 1 '-’’ 
7. M. brunnea Gould, Voy. of Beagle, Birds, p. 84. 
MuSCIGRALLA.f 
ides 
ill * IUI 
tlm'd> 
and 
Bill moderate and straight, with the culmen slightly curved at the tip, which is emarginated, the S1 
compressed, and the gonys long and slightly ascending ; the nostrils lateral, with the opening ° A 
partly concealed by the frontal plumes. Wings short ; with the first quill shorter than the second, 
and fourth; these are equal, and rather shorter than the fifth, which is the longest of all. Tail short 
even. Tarsi much longer than the middle toe, very slender, and covered in front with a series 
transverse scales ; the tibia very long, the exposed part half the length of the tarsus, and covered va ^ 
with transverse scales. Toes rather short ; the outer toe rather shorter than the inner, and united at 
base ; the claws rather long, compressed, curved, and acute. 
The type of this genus is found on the high lands of South America. 
M. brevicauda D’Orb. & Lafr. Voy. dans l’Amer. Mer. Ois. t. 39- f. 1. 
* Established by M. D'Orbigny and the Baron de Lafresnaye in 1837 {Syn. Avium, p. 65.). 
synonymous. 
t M. D’Orbigny and Baron de Lafresnaye established this genus in 1837 {Syn. Avium, p. 61.) 
to Ochthites in 1 840. 
u ngti) is 
Ptionura of Mr. Gould t 
i the n$rl,e 
M. Cabanis changed 
G E 
