Genus — P (EC ILODRYAS. 
Pcecilodryas Gould, Handb. Birds Austr., Vol. 
I., p. 287 (Sept. ? =Dec.) 1865. Type (by sub- 
sequent designation Sharpe, Cat. Birds, Vol. 
TV., p. 240, 1879) ... ... ... ... Petroica superciliosa Gould. 
This is another of the new genera “ characterised ” by Gould in his “ Hand- 
book ” where he simply wrote the following : “On reference to the figures of the 
birds I have called Petroica cerviniventris and P. superciliosa in the third volume 
of the folio edition and in the ‘ Supplement,’ it will at once be seen that these 
two species cannot be associated with either of the preceding genera ( Melano - 
dryas and Amaurodryas), and must be separated into a new one ; this division 
I have accordingly made and assigned to it the above appellation.” 
Since that date the genus has been commonly used by actual comparison 
and not from a scientific diagnosis. According to the humour of the worker a 
new bird has been classed under this genus name until the name has become 
useless as a means of conveyance of a scientific fact. Recent critics have 
constantly indicated their disagreement with my disintegration of accepted 
genera, but ornithological workers independently studying the birds I have 
treated have accepted a majority of my conclusions, a result I am quite 
satisfied with. 
In the present case the accurate Salvadori differentiated a couple of genera 
which have been accepted and another which has been ignored, while classing 
other species in the genus which should have been separated. 
Sharpe separated Heteromyias ( = Iredaleornis) and a second species is now 
admitted, but this second species was bandied about before its relationship 
was recognised. 
The type of Pcecilodryas resembles Iredaleornis in structure, but is smaller, 
the legs much weaker, the bill much smaller, though the wing is similar in 
formation. 
In coloration it has a broad white eye-stripe, a dark head, white under- 
surface, white tips to tail, and white bars on the wing giving a decided wing 
pattern. 
The species cinereifrons , the type of Iredaleornis , has a light head, lacks 
the eye-stripe and the white tips to the tails, but has the same under -colouring 
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