Genus— MEL ANODE Y AS. 
Melanodryas Gould, Handb. Birds Austr., 
Vol. I., p. 283, Sept. ? =Dec. 1865. Type 
(by monotypy) ... ... ... ... Muscicapa cucullata Latham. 
In about as few words as possible Gould wrote : “ For the Pied Robins, of 
which at least two species inhabit Australia, I propose the generic term of 
Melanodryas .” 
Really, this is a very distinct group, as its nearest relations are probably 
Amaurodryas and Petroica s. str. From the former, with which it generally 
agrees in size, it differs in its narrower bill, its weaker feet and its black and 
white coloration. From the latter in its larger size, its longer bill, its stronger 
feet and the lack of the red coloration. 
It is the most widely dispersed of all this series, but does not occur in 
Tasmania, where Amaurodryas occurs, and according to Ashby, in habits, 
etc., these represent each other. This suggests that the black and white 
coloration has been achieved since the separation of Australia and Tasmania, 
and that Petroica s. str. has since then developed the red coloration and recrossed 
into Tasmania, while in the interior districts Whiteornis has evolved with 
more red and decreased in size, and being restricted to the drier portions 
has not reached Tasmania, though it has even spread more inland over the 
continent than Petroica. Comparative osteological examination is once again 
indicated to decide the exact relationships of this interesting and complex 
little Australian group. \\ 
vol. vm. 
113 
