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._ Genus MIRAFRA, _Horsf._ One, if not two, species of this well-defined genus inhabit Australia. At present one only has been characterized; but the bird of this form, frequenting the intertropical portions of the country, may prove to be a distinct species. 230. Mirafra Horsfieldii, _Gould_ Vol. II. Pl. 77. Family FRINGILLIDÆ, _Vig._ The Finches of Australia comprise twenty well-marked species, referable to several genera or subgenera, each of which exhibit a slight difference in structure, accompanied, as is always the case, by a difference in habit, and in the districts inhabited; thus the true _Estreldæ_ frequent grassy patches in the glades of the forests, the open parts of gullies, &c.; the _Amadinæ_, the stony hills and flats; the _Poëphilæ_, the grass beds of the open plains; and the _Donacolæ_, the grasses of the marshy districts and reed-beds: of the habits of _Emblema_ nothing is known; its pointed bill indicates some peculiarity in its economy differing from those of the other genera. All the species build, I believe, large grassy nests with a spout-like opening. The whole of those figured are peculiar to Australia. Genus ESTRELDA, _Swains._ 231. Estrelda bella Vol. II. Pl. 78. _Loxia nitida_, Lath. Gen. Hist. vol. v. p. 268?