1 
THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
similar in coloration, more than one genus may be found to be confused 
under the name. 
The West African birds associated on account of their spine tails appear 
to represent three different genera, v^^hich I have called Telacanthura, 
Neafrapus and Alterapus. 
One species from Madagascar, which seems to be a spine-tailed derivative 
of Zoonava, a Collocaline bird, I have differentiated as Zoonavena. 
Two Indo-Malay species are of different origin, and these are separated 
as Rhaphidura and Indicapus. 
One species from the Philippine Islands has been differentiated by 
K/idgway as Mearnsia. 
This leaves Chcetura novceguinece D’ Albertis and Salvadori, from the 
Fly River, New Griiinea, as representative of another genus, which is indicated 
by its description by Hartert as an extraordinary species. 
In coloration it is nearest sylvatica, but is larger, with no white rump, 
the wing longer with the second primary longest, the tail short and shghtly 
forked with minute needle-tips, the feet comparatively large and strong. It is 
quite unlike any other group, and I therefore propose for it the new generic name 
Papijanapus. 
The most cursory glance over this discontinuous distribution, with the 
two peculiar features of the development of several groups in West Africa and 
probably America, strongly supports my suggestion that we cannot utilise the 
spine-tails as an absolute generic feature and that it shows convergence of 
evolution in an impressive way. I will now give, perhaps, the most convincing 
factor in favour of my view. • This is the series of birds classed by Hartert as a 
genus Cypseloides with the diagnosis : “ Shafts of rectrices not so stiff, and 
without perceptibly prominent spinous points.” Additional is written : “ This 
genus is closely allied to Chcetura, but may be recognised by the characters 
given above. The plumage is softer than in true Chcetura ; the shafts of 
the rectrices are not so stiff. C. rutilus and C. hrunneitorques are better 
placed with Cypseloides, although the spines are a little visible.” This inter- 
mediate series are American birds. Ridgway has accepted two genera, 
Nephoecetes [=Nephoc8etes] and Cypseloides, on account of the difference in 
the stiffness of the tail. Still, here there are certainly four groups, as under 
Cypseloides Ridgway has accepted three groups superficially as different as 
Nephoecetes [=Nephoc8etes] is from Cypseloides. Thus Cypselus senex is a 
much larger bird and differs in proportions, and its close relationship with 
fumigata the cited type of Cypseloides is problematical. There is a genus name, 
Aerornis Bertoni, 1901, which can be utilised. 
The two species with rufous collared males and spine-tipped tails differ 
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