Mr. Swainson on several new groups in Ornithology, 163 



pointed, the third, fourth, and fifth longest, and of equal length. 

 Tail short, even. Feet slender ; claws acute. 

 Type. Lanius capensis, Shaw. 



The unusual slenderness, and consequent weakness of the bill, 

 indicates this to be an aberrant form, leading to the next sub- 

 family. So far as I can judge from figures, there appear two or 

 three other African Laniadae which seem closely allied to this 

 type. 



Sub-family Thamnophilina, 

 MALACONOTUS. 



Mandibuld inferior e emarginaid^ rictu barbato. 



Alee breves. 



Cauda mediocris, eequalis, vel subrotundata. 



Pedes subfortes ; tarsorum squamis later alibus integris. 



Inferior mandible notched, rictus with stiff bristles. Wings short. 



Tail moderate, even, or slightly rounded. Feet rather strong, 



lateral scales of the tarsi undivided. 

 Type. La Pie-grieche blanchot, Le Vaill. Ois. d'Af. pi. 185. 



Sub 'family Dicrurina. 

 BRACHYPUS. 



Rostrum breve, compressum, emarginatum, culmine arcuaio^ 

 elevato ; gonyde recto ; rictu setts rigidis barbato,- selis nucha" 

 libus obsoletis. 



Alee mediocres, remigibus 4'^ et 5'«, cequalibus, longissimis. 



Pedes subfortes, brevissimi ; tarsorum squamis integris. 



Cauda mediocris, rotundata. 



Bill short, compressed, notched ; culmen elevated, curved ; gonys 

 straight. Rictus defended with short bristles. Nuchal bristles 

 obsolete. Wings rounded ; the fourth and fifth quills equal 

 and longest. Tail moderate, rounded. Feet strong, very 

 short ; the scales entire. 



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