Subfamily MOTACILLINÆ, Bonap.
Genus Anthus, Bechst.
Whether this Old World form is represented in Australia by more than a single species, is a point I have not satisfactorily determined; every part of its extra-tropical regions, including Van Diemen’s Land, is inhabited by Pipits which differ somewhat in size in almost every colony; still their difference is so slight that I have hitherto regarded them as mere varieties or local races.
| 226. Anthus Australis, Vig. & Horsf. | [Vol. II. ] Pl. 73. |
Subfamily ——?
Genus Cincloramphus, Gould.
Bill rather shorter than the head; culmen slightly arched; the tip distinctly notched; the commissure slightly angulated at the base, and somewhat incurved for the remainder of its length; nostrils lateral, oval; wings moderate, rigid, first quill very long and nearly equal to the second and third, which are the longest; tertials nearly as long as the primaries; tail rather small and cuneiform; tarsi very strong and scutellated anteriorly; toes long and powerful, particularly the hinder one and claw, which is articulated on the same plane with the inner toe; lateral toes nearly equal.
The members of this genus, which are three in number, are closely allied to the Indian genus Megalurus, and present even a greater disparity in the size of the sexes; they are all confined to Australia, where they frequent the grassy plains and open districts. The song of the males is more animated than that of any other bird inhabiting the country.
| 227. Cincloramphus cruralis | [Vol. II. ] Pl. 74. |
| 228. Cincloramphus cantillans, Gould | [Vol. II. ] Pl. 75. |
| 229. Cincloramphus rufescens, Gould | [Vol. II. ] Pl. 76. |
Subfamily ALAUDINÆ, Bonap.