408 BIRDS OF INDIA. 



This sub-family comprises a considerable number of birds be- 

 loncrinor to the Old Wotld, and perhaps to Australia, which differ from 

 the true Shrikes in their more lennthcned and wider bill ; the tip is 

 generally well hooked, and strongly toothed ; the nostrils are pro- 

 tected by feathers ; and the rictal bristles are nuuierous, though not 

 remarkably strong. The wings are somewhat longer than in the 

 true Shrikes, and the tail is shorter, and even, or emarginate, or very 

 slightly rounded. The feet are generally more feeble, and are only 

 intended for perching. The Indian members of the sub-family are 

 very arboreal, more or less social, generally hunting in small flocks, 

 and feeding on insects which they pick off tlie leaves and branches. 

 They usually have a rather pleasing song whilst thus employed. 



To this group belong the Indian Tephrodornis and its allies, 

 and the African Dri/oscopus, Prionops, and their afiines ; and per- 

 haps, though in this I speak with doubt, the Australian CoUuri'- 

 cineli. 



Pr. Bonaparte includes, in his two sub-families noted above, 

 the African Shrikes pertaining to Prionops, Dryoscopus, Telephonus, 

 Lcuiiarius, and Malaconotus, and the Asiatic Tephrodornis, also 

 Vunga of Africa. He now classes Colluricincla with the 

 Pachycephulince, through he formerly placed them among the Shrikes. 

 If the true Malaconoti strictly belong to this group, and not to the 

 Campephrigina>, they represent Pcricrocotus of the Carapephaginee, 

 by their bright colors. Telephoims appears a sort of link between 

 the Bush Shrikes and the true Shrikes. Dryoscopiis has the color- 

 ing of Hemipus ; Sigmodus, JEJurycephalus, and Prionops, have white 

 heads, and at one time I was inclined, with Mr. Blyth, to class here 

 Gampsorhynchis, and Thamnocataphus, the former of which has, 

 when adult, a white head ; but I am now led to look upon these 

 forms as a Laniane development of the great Crateropodine series. 



Gen. Tephrodornis, Swainson. 

 Syn. Keroida, Gray : Tentliaca, Hodgson. 

 Ciiar. — Bill lengthened, widish at the base, compressed, strong, 

 moderately hooked at the tip, and notched ; base of bill and nos- 

 trils partially covered with procumbent setaceous feathers ; a few 

 moderately strong rictal bristles ; wings moderate or long, slightly 



