MU SCIC APIN M. 
longer than the middle toe, and covered in front with an almost entire scale. Toes moderate, with the 
outer lateral toe longer than the inner one ; the hind toe moderate : the claws rather short, compressed, 
curved, and acute. 
The species of this genus are peculiar to Australia, where they are generally observed in the recently cleared marshy 
ground or in the densest mangroves and thickets, and are either seen creeping among the fallen trees or on a stump, 
making various semicircular motions, and at the same time spreading out their tails, uttering loud notes, which Caley 
compared to the noise of a razor-grinder, when at work. The note of another species has also been remarked by 
Mr. Gould to be similar to the croak of a frog, but while perched on high branches of trees they utter a rather pleasing 
succession of sounds resembling twit te tivite ; on the slightest disturbance they immediately descend again to the under- 
wood, and recommence their froglike note. The nest is built among the branches, and it is composed of stringy-bark 
bound together with vegetable fibres, among which in some instances cobwebs are mixed ; sometimes small pieces of 
thin bark are attached, some of them hanging by a single thread, and moving about with every breath of air. The eggs 
are two in number. 
1. S . inquieta (Lath.) G. R. Gray, Lamb. Icon. ined. ii. 51. — 
Turdus dubius Lath. Lamb. Icon. ined. ii. 67 . ; T. muscicola Lath. 
Lamb. Icon. ined. ii. 49 ; Seisura volitans Vig. &; Horsf. Swains. 
Nat. Libr. Flyc. x. pi. 1 2. 
2. S. volitans (Lath.) G. R. Gray, Lamb. Icon, ined.i. 59. 
3. S. nitida (Gould), Proc. Z. S. 1840. p. 171., B. of Austr. pi. ; 
Type of Piezorhynchus Gould (1840). 
My i agra Vig. Sf Horsf* 
Bill moderate, straight, more or less broad, and much depressed at the base, with the sides gra- 
dually compressed, and the culmen slightly curved to the tip, which is emarginated ; the gonys very 
long and ascending ; the gape furnished with numerous short bristles ; the nostrils basal, rounded, 
and partly hidden by the frontal plumes. Wings long, with the first quill very short, and the fourth 
and fifth equal and longest. Tail long, broad, and even. Tarsi short, longer than the middle toe, and 
covered with broad transverse scales. Toes short, Avith the outer toe longer than the inner ; the hind 
toe moderate : the claws short, compressed, and curved. 
The species inhabit the thick bushes that border the lagoons and ponds of Australia and India. They are seen flitting 
from branch to branch, and occasionally darting after insects on the Aving, pursuing those only Avhich approach within 
two or three feet, scarcely remaining in the same position for more than a few seconds, and then resuming their flight. 
1. M. rubecula (Lath.) G. R. Gray, Lamb. Icon. ined. ii. 44. — 
Platyrhynchus ruflcollis et P. rubecula Vie ill. • Myiagra rubeculoides 
Vig. (5f Horsf. 
2. M. plumbea Vig. et Horsf. Linn. Trans, xv. p. 254. 
3. M. flavipes Swains. Nat. Libr. Flyc. x. p. 255. 
4. M. latirostris Swains. Nat. Libr. Flyc. x. p. 255. 
5. M. Myiagra latirostris Gould, Proc. Z. S. 1 840. 
p. 172., Voy. au Pole Sud, Ois. t. 12. bis, f. 1, 2.? 
6. M. nitida Gould, Proc. Z. S. 1837. p. 142. 
7- M .fascinans (Lath.) Lamb. Icon. ined. i. 58. — Sylvia leu- 
cophrea Lath. Lamb. Icon. ined. iii. 28 . ; Myiagra macroptera Vig. 
&, Horsf. ; Type of Micrceca Gould (1840). 
8. M. assimilis (Gould), Proc. Z. S. 1840. p. 172. 
9. M . flavigaster (Gould), Proc. Z. S. 1842. p. 132. 
10. M . azurea (Bodd.) PI. enL 666. f. 1. — Muscicapa cserulea 
Gmel. Le Vaill. Ois. d’Afr. t. 153. ; M. occipitalis Vigors ; M. cse- 
ruleocephala Sykes, Kittl. Kupf. Vogel, t. 9- f. 1. 
11. M. — ? (Homb. & Jacq.) Voy. au Pole Sud, Ois. t. 12. 
bis, f. 3. 
12. M. — ? (Homb. & Jacq.) Voy.au Pole Sud, Ois. t. 12. 
bis. f. 4. 
13. M. longicauda Swains. Nat. Libr. Flyc. x. pi. 25. 
14. M. torquata Swains. Nat. Libr. Flyc. x. p. 208. 
* Established by Vigors and Dr. Horsfield in 1825 (Linn. Trans, xv. p. 250.). Hypothimis of M. Boie (1828) is synonymous. It 
embraces Micrceca of Mr. Gould (1840). 
