PASSERINiE. 255 



In some of these straight-beaked Shrikes, that organ is very stout, 

 and its lower mandible much inflated. (l) 



Others, whose beak is straight and slender, are remarkable for 

 vertical tufts of feathers. (2) 



Around these Shrikes, properly so called, some other subgenera, 

 which differ from them more or less, form natural groups. Such 

 are the 



Vanga, Buff. 



Which have a large beak, very much compressed throughout, its 

 tip much hooked, and that of the inferior mandible bent down- 

 wards.(3) 



OCYPTERUS, CUV.(4.) 



The beak, conical, rounded, without a ridge, slightly arcuated 

 towards the end, with a very fine point slightly notched on each 

 side; the feet rather short, and the wings as long as the tail, and 

 longer; from which circumstance their flight is rendered similar to 

 that of the Swallow; but they have the courage of the Shrikes, and 

 do not fear to attack even the Crow. (5) 



Numerous species inhabit the coast and islands of the Indian 



I also place here that bird which has been so bandied about by naturalists, the 

 Merle de Mindanao of Buff. Enl. 627, Tardus m'lndanensis. Lath and Gm. the 

 same as their Gracula saularis. Little Pie of the Indies, or Dial-bird, Albin. Ill, \7 

 and 18, Edw. 181, Vaill. Afr. 109 [Stumus Solaris, Daud.] and even the Terat 

 boulan {Turdus orientalis), Enl. 273, II, might be approximated to it, but is also 

 very closely allied to the Turdoides. 



The genus Thamnophilus or Battara of Vieillot is formed by one of these 

 straight beaked Shrikes, but is so badly determined that other authors have refer- 

 red to it, Vireos, &c. 



(1) Lanitis lineahis, Leach, Zool. Miscell. pi. vi. ThamnopMlus guttatus, 

 Spix, oS. 



(2) The Geoffrey, Vaill. Afr. 80 and81,and Vieill. Gal. \A2{Lan. plumatus, Sh.), 

 of which Vieill. has made his genus Pniojfops, or Bogadais, Galer. 142 and the 

 Manicup. Buff. Enl. 7Q7{Pipra albifrons,Gm.), whicli has nothing more in common 

 with the Pipra than a somewhalt unusual prolongation of the union between the 

 two external toes. Vieill. has made his geims Pithts, Galer. 129, from it. 



(3) The Vanga, Enl. 228, {Lan. mrvirostris, Gm.) and new species, such as the 

 V. desiructeur, Cuv. Col. 273. The V. sirie hiippe, Voy. de Freyc. pi. xviii and 

 xix, or Tliamnophilus Vigorsii, Zool. Journ. Supp. VII and VIII. 



(4) Ocyptems or oxypterus rapid wings, pointed wings the Greek name of 

 an unknown bird, very applicable to these. It is from this genus that Vieill. has 

 made his Autamus. 



(3) Sonnerat, Pr. Voy. p. 56. 



