EXTERNAL ANATOMY. CUNEATEI) TAIL. 101 
the length of such as are more central. The Prinia 
familiaris * , or wren warbler of India, shows us this 
structure in great perfection, as does the whole of the 
beautiful Australian genus, Mulurus. Most of the 
exotic jays of the genus Cyanurns, all the curve billed 
cuckoos (^Coccysus), and numerous other groups have 
tails of this formation, although considerably varied. 
Sometimes, as in the Indian and African flycatchers, 
(Mmcipeta) the two middle tail feathers are greatly 
elongated, and the lateral ones are equally graduated on 
each side. All these however, are but inferior devia- 
tions from the typical form ; the feathers are broad 
and thin, and their termination more or less rounded. 
( 92 .) 5. A cuneated tail is shaped like the last, but 
the form of the feathers are different. The tail of the 
woodpecker, in addition to its scansorial property is, as 
to shape, strictly cuneated, each feather being gradually 
narrowed from the middle, and terminating in a point. 
Examples of this form may be seen in nearly all the 
long-tailed parrakeets, particularly in the genus Pezo. 
poms; some few may also be found in the genus Synal- 
laxis, and among the tree creepers, of which we have a 
native example in our Certhia familiaris. When, 
however, as in the latter genus, and in the Picidep, a 
cuneated tail is likewise scansorial, the former appella- 
tion merges into the latter. 
( 93 .) 6. Arcuated, or arched tails, belong only to Rasorial 
types. This form, in the proportion which the feathers 
bear to each other, is similar to the last ; but, instead of 
being straight, they are gently arched, and those in the 
middle are so convex that they lap over, as if to pro- 
tect the others. The common pheasant shows us this 
form in perfection, and it is almost general throughout 
the genus ; another magnificent bird, the Calurus pa- 
vonius t, possesses this structure highly developed. 
(94!.) 7 . Spatulate, or rachet-shaped tails, exhibit 
a very remarkable form, totally different from any 
other. It consists in the middle feathers 
* Zool. must. ii. pi. S7. t mid. ii. P- 107. 
