The only species known of this form is strictly Australian, and is a sprightly animated bird frequenting the sterile districts studded with large trees, scrubs, and open glades, where it hops about on the ground in search of insects. Notwithstanding the singularly lengthened form of its scapularies and its terrestrial habits, it appears to me to belong to the same type of form as the _Pachycephalæ_; its loud piping note and mode of nidification also favours this opinion. It lays three or four eggs, in a round, cup-shaped nest, placed either in a grass tree (_Xanthorrhœa_) or in a hole or stump of a decayed upright tree.
A genus of which many species inhabit India and Africa, but of which only one has yet been found in Australia.
128. Dicrurus bracteatus, _Gould_ Vol. II. Pl. 82.
Many species of this genus occur in India, the Indian Islands, New Guinea, and Polynesia; and five or six are comprised in the fauna of Australia, over every part of which country, including Van Diemen’s Land, one or other member of the group is found to exist.
129. Rhipidura albiscapa, _Gould_ Vol. II. Pl. 83. 130. Rhipidura rufifrons Vol. II. Pl. 84. 131. Rhipidura Dryas, _Gould_.
Inhabits the north coast. I have not figured this species because it only differs from _R. rufifrons_ in being of a smaller size, and in the red colouring at the base of the tail-feathers being more extensive.
132. Rhipidura isura, _Gould_ Vol. II. Pl. 85. 133. Rhipidura Motacilloïdes, _Vig. & Horsf._ Vol. II. Pl. 86. 134. Rhipidura picata, _Gould_.
Not figured, being similar in colour but much smaller than _R. Motacilloïdes_; it inhabits Port Essington.
The present genus and _Rhipidura_ are mere modifications of each other; a difference of structure, however, exists of sufficient importance to justify their separation, and, as is always the case, a corresponding difference is found in the habits of the species.
The present form is restricted to Australia.
_Turdus muscicola_, Lath. Gen. Hist. vol. v. p. 123.
_Bill_ longer than the head; deeper than broad, almost cylindrical; compressed on the sides, notched at the tip; _nostrils_ basal, small and round; _wings_ short; first primary moderate, the fourth the longest; _tail_ rather short and round; _tarsi_ moderately long and somewhat feeble; the inner and middle toes connected as far as the first joint, the outer one the longest.