The only species of this genus yet discovered is a native of the northern parts of Australia, from Cape York to Port Essington, where it frequents the dense beds of Mangroves.
136. Piezorhynchus nitidus, _Gould_ Vol. II. Pl. 88.
A group of insectivorous birds, the greater number of which inhabit the Indian Islands and Polynesia, and of which four species are found in Australia.
137. Myiägra plumbea, _Vig. & Horsf._ Vol. II. Pl. 89. 138. Myiägra concinna, _Gould_ Vol. II. Pl. 90. 139. Myiägra nitida, _Gould_ Vol. II. Pl. 91. 140. Myiägra latirostris, _Gould_ Vol. II. Pl. 92.
_Bill_ shorter than the head, depressed, broad at the base; _gonys_ straight; curving downwards and slightly notched at the tip; _nostrils_ round, placed at the base of the bill, which is beset with strong bristles; _wings_ lengthened and powerful, first primary short, the third the longest; _tail_ rather short and nearly square; _tarsi_ moderate and feeble; _toes_ feeble, the external toe much longer than the internal one.
Three species of this genus inhabit Australia, to which country they are confined.
141. Micrœca macroptera. Vol. II. Pl. 93.
_Sylvia leucophœa_, Lath. Gen. Hist. vol. vii. p. 139.
_Micrœca assimilis_, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part VIII. p. 172.
All the upper surface brown, primaries dark brown; tail brownish black; the tips and the terminal half of the external margins of the two outer feathers white; the three next on each side also tipped with white, the extent of the white becoming less upon each feather as they approach the centre of the tail; the four middle feathers without the white tip; throat, centre of the abdomen and under tail-coverts white, passing into pale brown on the sides of the chest and flanks; irides reddish brown; bill and feet blackish brown.
Total length, 4⅝ inches; _bill_, 9/16; _wings_, 3⅜; _tail_, 2⅛; _tarsi_, 9/16.
Inhabits Western Australia; and is so nearly allied to the _Micrœca macroptera_, from which it only differs in being much less in size and in having the base of the outer tail-feather brown, that I have not considered it necessary to figure it.
143. Micrœca flavigaster Vol. II. Pl. 94.
Several species of this genus occur in the Indian Islands and two in Australia. They are insectivorous birds, and procure their food by quietly hopping about among the branches of the trees.