Genus Ephthianura, Gould.
Bill shorter than the head, nearly straight, compressed laterally, notched at the tip, gonys incurved; nostrils basal, linear, and covered by a membrane; wings long, first quill spurious, second very long, third and fourth equal and longest; tertials very long; tail short and truncate; tarsi entire, moderately long, slight; toes slender, the hinder toe and claw shorter than the middle one, the inner toe rather shorter than the outer.
Three species of this form are all that are at present known, and of these two are figured for the first time in the present work. They all inhabit the southern part of Australia, where they frequent the open districts studded with bushes and low trees; the E. albifrons is occasionally found on the open plains.
| 217. Ephthianura albifrons | [Vol. II. ] Pl. 64. |
| 218. Ephthianura aurifrons, Gould | [Vol. II. ] Pl. 65. |
| 219. Ephthianura tricolor, Gould | [Vol. II. ] Pl. 66. |
Genus Xerophila, Gould.
Generic characters.
Bill short, semiconical, robust at the base, without any notch at the tip; and provided with a few hairs at the base of the upper mandible; nostrils round and covered by minute feathers; wings moderate in size; first primary short, the third and fourth the longest; tertiaries broad and somewhat elongated; tail moderate, square and slightly concave; tarsi robust; hind-toe strong, anterior toes feeble, the exterior longer than the inner one.
A curious form, of which only one species is known, and the situation of which in the natural system is quite undetermined. It has many of the actions and manners of the Acanthizæ, but its robust and gibbose bill precludes its being placed with that group. It is mainly terrestrial in its habits and builds a domed nest.
| 220. Xerophila leucopsis, Gould | [Vol. II. ] Pl. 67. |