Genus — OPHRY ZONE. 
Ophryzone Ramsay, Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lond.), 1868, 
p. 383, Oct. 1. Type (by monotypy) Arses Jcaupi Gould. 
Also spelt — 
Orphryzone Mathews, List Birds Austr., p. 190, 1913. 
Gould stated : “ I have some little doubt as to the propriety of placing this 
bird in the genus Arses, but rather than multiply the number of genera, perhaps 
unnecessarily, I have assigned it a place therein, as it accords more nearly 
with that form than with Monarcha, the only other genus to which it presents 
alliance.” 
Ramsay wrote : “ In habits and actions this pretty species closely resembles 
the species of Monarcha ; they are lively and active, like the Rhipidura albiscapa, 
but do not fan the tail like that species. One peculiarity which seems to have 
escaped Mr. Gould’s scrutiny is the enlargement of the eyelid into a narrow flat 
rim, crenulated on its outer margin. This rim, which is one -twentieth inch in 
width, and encircles the whole of the eye, is of a bright indigo-blue in the living 
bird, and gives it a very curious and remarkable appearance ; this fact, added 
to the unproportionately long hind-toe and nail, may, in some degree, help to 
decide to which genus the bird really belongs, or form sufficient grounds for 
the foundation of a new genus. If such be deemed the case, I beg to propose 
the generic term Ophryzone, on account of these peculiarities.” 
Compared with the type of the genus Arses the present form is smaller, 
with a smaller, broader bill and with a different wing formula. The fourth, 
fifth and sixth primaries are subequal and longest, the third equal to the seventh 
which exceeds the second while the first is short, being less than half the length 
of the second. 
In the feet the disproportionately long hind-toe and nail are diagnostic. 
This seems another of the “ Cairns ” peculiar forms of birds, as it is elsewhere 
unknown. 
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