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ART. IV. Description ©/"Cratopus bicolor, a new species among 

 the Merulidae, from Southern Africa. By Sir William 

 Jardine, F.R.S.E. F.L.S. M.W.S. F.Z.S. &c. With a plate, 



Fam. Merulidce, Vig. — Sub-fam. Crateropodince, Swains. 

 Genus Cratopus, Swains. 



Craiopus bicolor, Jard Black and White Cratopus. 



C. corpore albo, remigibus, seeondariis, caudaque nigris. 



The genus Cratopus has been formed, by Mr Swainson, for 

 the reception of some of the Merulidas previously ranged in other 

 genera, and is the typical form of one of the sub-families of that 

 gentleman's arrangement of the group. In the second volume 

 of the Northern Zoology, now nearly completed, will be found 

 a beautiful analysis of this family, particularly the North Ame- 

 rican forms, fully detailing the affinities ; this species, with 

 many others, was submitted to the inspection of Mr Swainson, 

 and it was at once set down as an aberrant form of the genus. 



The general appearance of these birds is, — a strong, somewhat 

 curved, bill; loose plumage, considerably elongated on the backs, 

 like the puff-backed shrikes, (malaconoti,) or the American bush- 

 shrikes, (thamnophili ;) the wings rather short and rounded, 

 the tail long and graduated, and the tarsi and feet strong. Mr 

 Swainson remarks — "It appears that most of the typical species 

 principally live in the vicinity of water, among reeds : their 

 notes are particularly loud, harsh, and grating ; and, in these 

 retreats, they keep up a perpetual monotonous babbling. 

 Some, however, possess much more harmony, but nearly all 

 appear to frequent only low trees and shrubs. Their geo- 

 graphic range is almost limited to the warm latitudes of the 

 old world." * The colours are different shades of brown and 

 black ; the present species, however, is remarkably distinct 

 in the pure black and white of the plumage. It exhibits the 

 scaly form of the feathers which is found on the head and 

 neck of many of them, and the secondaries and tail retain the 

 curious waved form of the shafts, giving the appearance of bars 

 upon the webs, in different lights. The feathers on the rump are 

 also of considerable length. The following is a description of the 

 only two specimens I have ever seen. They were both received, 

 among a very large and valuable collection of skins, from Dr 

 Smith, the superintendant of the South African Museum. The 

 one is now before me, the other is in the Collection of Mr Selby. 

 The only notice accompanying the skins was, " They are said to 

 be gregarious," and I am ignorant of what particular district of 

 South Africa they are natives. The length is ten inches and 

 three-fourths. The bill black, somewhat more curved than usual, 

 running into pomatorhinus. The quills, secondaries, bastard 

 pinion, and tail, deep brownish black ; the rest of the plumage 

 very clear white. The wings are rather more pointed than in 

 the true types, and the tail scarcely so long in proportion. 



* Northern Zool it. 157. 

 VOL. III. N 



