414 BIRDS OF INDIA. 



Ampelideous group, as shown in one genus by its fruit-eating 

 propensities, and in another by its gay colors. 



Most of them have their plumage of grey of various shades, 

 or blackish ; one group is gaily colored with glossy black and 

 fine red of various shades. They frequent woods and gardens, 

 living in small flocks in general, and feeding entirely in trees on 

 various insects, caterpillars, &c. The majority of them are 

 inhabitants of India and Malayana with Australia ; a few being 

 from Africa. 



They perhaps grade into the DicrurincB by means of such birds as 

 Pteropodocys, a fork-tailed Campepliaga from Australia ; and 

 Dicrurus cineraceus approaches in its colors to many of this sub- 

 family. Ceblepyris tricolor of Temminck is said by Bonaparte to 

 the Artamince. 



Gen. VoLVOCivoRA, Hodgson. 



Syn. Cehlepyris of Cuvier, partly ; (^am-pephaga and Lalage 

 apud auct. 



Char. — Bill rather short, broadish at base, compressed at 

 tip, where bent down and notched ; culmen scarcely keeled ; rictal 

 bristles almost wanting ; nostrils basal, oval, partly concealed by 

 tufts ; wings rather long ; 3rd and 4th quills equal and longest ; 

 tail moderate or long, rounded; upper tail-coverts long; tarsus 

 short ; feet short, outer toe slightly longer than the inner ; claws 

 small, slightly curved. 



This genus is now adopted by Gray and Bonaparte for the 

 Indian species, that have been variously classed as Ceblepyris, 

 Lalage, and Campepliaga. 



268. Volvocivora Sykesii, Strickland. 



Campaphaga Sykesii, Gray — Blyth, Gat. 1153 — Ceblepyris 

 canus and C. fimbriatus apud Sykes, Nos. 56 and 57 — Jerdon, 

 Cat. 61 — HoRSr. Cat. 234 — Jungll kasya, H. — Chinna Akurayi, 

 Tel, i. e. Lesser file-bird. 



The Black-headed Cuckoo-shrike. 



Descr. — Male. — Head, neck and breast, deep black ; whole upper 

 plumage pale grey ; tail black, the outer feathers broadly tipped 



