Genus— PURNELLORNIS. 
PuRNELLOBNis Mathews, Austral Avian Record, 
Vol. IL, pt. 5, p. 112, Sept. 24tli, 1914. Type 
(by original designation) .. .. .. Certhia nigra Bechstein. 
I DIAGNOSED this genus thus: “ Differs from Mdiornis Gray m having much 
smaller, weaker feet and a thick tuft of feathers below the eye, acting as ear- 
coverts, but which can be raised in a fan-like manner.” 
This development of the ear-coverts is accompanied by loss of the 
“ beard ’’noted in the previous genus to which this one is very closely allied. 
It is of interest that: 
Bonaparte in “Notes Omith. Collect. Delattre, p. 55, 1854,” says: 
“ Meliornis mystacaZis Gould, pourrait former un geinre nouveau.” Sixty 
years later I named it. 
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