Genus— PS 0 PH ODES. 
Psophodes Vigors and Horsfield, 
Trans. Linn. Soc. (Lond.), Vol. 
XV., p. 328, Feb. 17, 1827. Type 
(by monotypy) P. crepitans =C or vus olivaceus Latham. 
From paintings Latham described this species in the genera Muscicapa and 
Corvus, which suggests its abnormal appearance. Vigors and Horsfield, 
upon receipt of actual specimens, proposed for it a new genus, and at the 
present time its affinity is quite unknown. 
Large Cinclosomatine (??) birds with full crest, stout strongly laterally 
compressed bills, rounded wings, very long wedge-shaped tail of broad feathers 
and long stout legs and feet. 
The bill is nearly as long as the head, strongly laterally compressed, its 
depth at base about half its length, culmen steeply keeled and strongly arched, 
tip little decurved and not very pointed; lateral edges of upper mandible 
nearly straight, scarcely notched after tip ; the nostrils appear as small circular 
apertures anteriorly placed in small semicircular nasal groove, and almost hidden 
by frontal feathering and bristles ; lower mandible shallow and narrow, rami 
very short and little expanded, interramal space very small and fully feathered 
rictal bristles few and obscure. 
The wing is very rounded, the primaries from the fourth to the tenth about 
equal and equalled by the secondaries ; the third primary is a little less, while 
the second is about three-quarters the length of the fourth and the first about 
half the length of the third. 
The tail is composed of twelve broad feathers forming a very long, strong 
wedge. 
The legs are long and stout, the tarsus strongly scutellate in front, six 
heavy scutes being counted, and bilaminate behind. 
It will be interesting in this connection to quote what Vigors and Horsfield 
wrote about this form nearly one hundred years ago : 
“ This form offers one of the greatest difficulties to the investigator of 
affinities. The birds that exhibit it are said to be Honey-eaters. This we 
much doubt. They are found among the flowers of the eucalypti ; but this 
circumstance may arise as well from their being in search of the insects abounding 
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