Family— ATRICHORNITHID.E. 
Two peculiar species of rare birds have attracted to themselves great interest 
through a peculiar development of the sternum and remarkable features of 
the syrinx muscles, so that they were classed with Menura , the Lyre-Birds, apart 
from all other Passeriform species. Yet they do not deserve this position and 
later will probably be more correctly located. No complete anatomical com- 
parison has been made with other strange Australian forms, so that the peculiar 
value of these differences cannot be correctly gauged. It is imperative that 
such work should be undertaken immediately, as one species seems undoubtedly 
extinct and the other approaching extermination. 
The superficial features of these birds are not striking, simply small iiasserine 
soft-feathered birds of the little-flying class with short wings and long tail. The 
first impression of their relationship might be with the other similar superficially 
formed Australian birds and it is possible that this would be their correct place. 
The only noticeable feature is the tarsal covering which consists of scutes back 
and front, and as this was regarded by Stejneger as one of ancestral characters 
of Passeriform birds, a low place might on that account be suggested. When 
this is confirmed by internal investigation it might almost be accepted, but 
here again degradation must be considered, as it is just as important to 
remember that very few of the anomalous passerines have been completely 
investigated and consequently the absolute value of the observed differences 
is still problematical. 
♦ 
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