Family — 0 RTHONYCIDiE. 
In my “ List of the Birds of Australia ” I continued the use of the family name 
Timeliidse to include the peculiar forms of Australian birds not definitely 
placed in other families. At its best the family Timeliidse was a very poor 
attempt at constructive avian classification, but as latterly used it was an 
absurd hotchpotch of dissimilar forms. Its revision will only be due to 
extensive pruning until little is left save the trunk. I am fortunate in the 
fact that the genus name Orthonyx has priority over the unfortunate Timalia 
(which is the correct spelling, Timelia being an unwarranted emendation !), so 
that my family Orthonycidae has a firm basis in nomenclatural use. However, 
there is at present no proof that any Australian bird has any close relation 
to the genus Timalia. It is in this connection that I would consider the 
“ deeper seated ” characters of value, viz., to provide a suggestion as to the 
relationships of the species. 
Forbes has recorded a very peculiar variation in connection with the 
left carotid, but otherwise found little of value, but if study were undertaken 
now better results might be achieved. 
171 
