MOTACILLIM. 
Ephthianura Gould .* 
Sill moderate, rather depressed, and straight, Avith the culmen only curved near the tip, Avhich is 
emarginated, the lateral margin straight and indexed, the gonys moderate and ascending ; the nostrils 
lateral, placed in a broad groove, Avith the opening covered by a membranous scale. Wings moderate ; 
AVlt h the first quill very short ; the second nearly as long as the third, fourth, and fifth, Avhich are equal 
aiK -l longest. Tail rather short, and even. Tarsi longer than the middle toe, and covered in front Avith 
transverse scales. Toes rather short ; Avith the outer toe longer than the inner, and free at its base ; the 
hind toe long, and armed Avith a long, slightly curved, and acute claAV. 
These birds are peculiar to Australia, where, says Mr. Gould, they are found in small flocks on the plains. They 
Usually resort to the ground, perching frequently either on the summit of a stone, or on the extremity of a dead and 
^afless branch ; and are capable of moving over the surface of the ground with amazing quickness, with a motion that 
can neither be described as a hop nor as a run, but something betAveen the two, accompanied by a bobbing action of the 
tail. 
1. K. albi/rons (Jard. & Selby), Gould, Jard. & Selby, Illustr. 
rn - ph 56. — Fluvicola leucocephala Less.; Cinura torquata 
£reh ™, Gould, B. of Austr. pi. 
2. E. aurifrons Gould, Proc. Z. S. 1837. p. 148., B. of Austr. 
Ph 
3. E. tricolor Gould, Proc. Z. S. 1837. p. 15p., B. of Austr. pi. 
Ant hus Bechst. f 
Sill more or less straight and slender, Avith the culmen almost straight, or slightly curved, and the 
^des compressed to the tip, Avhich is emarginated, the lateral margins straight and inflexed, the gonys 
l° n g and ascending; the nostrils lateral, placed in a short broad groove, Avith the opening rounded and 
Partly closed by a membrane. Wings moderate, Avith the first three quills equal and longest. Tail 
Moderate, and emarginated. Tarsi longer than the middle toe, rather slender, and covered in front Avith 
° a d transverse scales. Toes long, and rather slender; Avith the lateral toes equal, and the outer one 
s %htly united at its base ; the hind toe long : the claAvs of the anterior toes rather short and curved, 
ari< ^ that of the hind toe very long and acute. 
These birds inhabit most parts of the world ; some are more usually found on the rocky and open places near the 
Ca ~ shore, while others prefer the mountains, heaths, marshes, and open cultivated places. Some species are migratory. 
Preceding northwards for the summer months, and returning to the temperate parts for the winter; while others remain 
^tionary throughout the year. They usually frequent the ground, on which they run with rapidity, and often take 
short 
jerking flights, capturing their food, which consists of small insects, larv®, and worms. During the spring of the 
■» w ' - — — 
^ ai these birds rise Avith a tremulous and rapid motion of the wings to a great elevation in the air, and then commence 
011 song ; descending afterwards with motionless wings and expanded tail, in a gradually slanting direction, tOAvards the 
t Tv established this genus in 1837. Cinura of M. Brehm (1844) is synonymous. 
Pi * his genus was established in 1802 by Bechstein ( Naturg . Deutsch .). Spipola of Leach (1816), CorydaUa of Vigors (1825), 
s e,? and Leimoniptera of Dr, Kaup (1829); and Agrodroma and Macronyx of Mr. Swainson (1837) are synonymous. 
