INTRODUCTION. 
Vol, IIT. Pl, 90, 
Vol. IT, Pl. 91. 
Vol. IIT. PL 92, 
Vol. TIT. PL. 98. 
243. Poéphila acuticauda, Gould 
244. Poéphila personata, Gould 
245. Poéphila leucotis, Gould 
246. Poéphila cincta, Gould 
Genus Donacota, Gould. 
Generic characters. 
As in the genus Amadina, but with the bi// much more developed and gibbose at the base, with the eulmen 
elevated and the lower mandible retiring backward on the face ; wings shorter and rounder; feet more adapted for 
clinging, and remarkable for the greater development of the hind-toe and nail ; ¢ai/-feathers rigid. 
247. Donacola castaneothorax, Gould. ; - : : ; ; , A : Vol. IIT. PL 94. 
248. Donacola pectoralis, Gould. . : é ‘al. IIL. Pl. 95. 
249. Donacola flaviprymna, Gould : : . . F ‘ ; ; . Vol, IT]. Pl. 96. 
Genus Empiema, Could. 
Generic characters. 
Bill nearly as long as the head, conical, and much resembling that of the genus Ploceus; wings moderately 
long as compared with the body; first quill rudimentary, the four next equal in length; tertiaries much lengthened ; 
tail moderately long and nearly square, or slightly rounded ; feet plantigrade; toes extremely slender, the middle 
toe much longer than the lateral ones, which are equal in length. 
250. Emblema picta, Gould : : ; : : . . P : : ’ Vol. III. Pl. 97. 
The single example of this beautiful bird, which was procured and presented to me by B. Bynoe, Esq., is I 
believe all that has ever been seen; I regret to say it no longer graces my collection, having been stolen therefrom, 
together with some other valuable birds, in the year 1846. 
Family MERULIDE, Vig. 
Genus Prrra, Vieil/l. 
The members of this genus extend from tropical India throughout the islands of the Indian Archipelago to 
Australia ; one or two species also occur in Africa. Of the three inhabiting Australia the Pitta Iris is figured for 
the first time in the present work, and is one of the very finest species of this lovely group of birds. 
251. Pitta strepitans, Temm.  . . : ; F ] : : ‘ol. TV. Pl. 
since my account of this species was printed I have received its eggs, accompanied by the following notes 
from Mr. Strange of Sydney :— 
: , ; 
‘I never saw any bird whose actions are more graceful than those of the Pitta strenitans, when seen in its 
native brushes, where its presence is indicated by its singular call, resembling the words ‘want a@ watch,’ by 
= ‘gs ‘ , 
imitating which you can call it close to the muzzle of your gun; no sooner, however, does it commence breeding — 
than it becomes shy and retiring, keeping out of sight in the most artful manner, moving about from place to place, 
and occasionally uttering its cry until it has drawn you away from the nest, he nests I have seen were placed in 
the spur of a fig-tree near the ground, outwardly constructed of sticks and lined with moss, leayes and fine pieces 
of bark; the eggs are four in number,” of a pale creamy-white marked all over with irregularly-shaped_ blotches 
of brown and deep vinous grey, the latter appearing as if beneath the surface of the shell ; they are one inch and 
a quarter in length by seven-eighths of an inch in breadth. 
