Genus — ORTH ONYX. 
Orthonyx Temminck, Manuel d’Orn., 2nd ed., 
Vol. I., p. lxxxi., Oct. 21st, 1820. Type 
(by monotypy) founded on ... ... Orthonyx temminclcii Ranzani. 
Small Orthonycine birds with short bills, short rounded wings, long spiny 
wedge-shaped tail, long stout legs and feet. Plumage soft and lax. The 
bill is short and stout about half the length of the head, the culmen arched, 
the tip sharp but scarcely decurved ; ridge almost keeled, sides compressed, 
but a little expanded basally, gape rather fleshy. There is a slight “ tooth ” 
behind the tip ; the nasal groove is about one-third the length of the bill and 
the nostrils are placed anteriorly in the groove, appearing as circular apertures, 
obscured by a patch of frontal feathers ; the under mandible is strong, the 
interramal space about half the length of the bill and fully feathered ; rictal 
bristles few and obscure. 
The wing is very rounded, the first primary about half the length of the 
fourth which is about three-fourths the length of the second ; the third exceeds 
the second and is itself exceeded by the fourth which is equalled by the fifth, 
sixth and seventh ; the eighth primary is longer than the third and the 
secondaries are equal to the tenth primary and longer than the second primary. 
The tail is long, composed of twelve broad feathers forming a broad, 
rounded wedge, the tip of each feather showing a spiny shaft denuded of barbs 
and all shafts stiff, the centre ones strongest. The feet are very strong, five 
strong scutes being counted in front, the back being bilaminate, rough scutes 
being seen at tibial joint behind ; the toes are strong and long, all anteriorly 
joined at first joint, the outer toe being equal to the middle one, the inner a 
little shorter and equal to the hind-toe ; the claws are long and little curved, 
about half the length of the toes, the hind claw longest. 
