530 CLASS XVI. 



Spasorms mihi^ VangaYlEiLh., GrAY. Bill moderate, straight, 

 compressed, higher than broad, strong, with culmcn obtuse, keeled, 

 with tip curved ; each mandible emarginate towards the tip. Angle 

 of mouth armed with bristles. Nostrils lateral, basal, rounded, 

 partly covered by plumules. Tarsi longer than middle toe, scutel- 

 late anteriorly. Wings with fourth, fifth and sixth quills subequal, 

 longest of all. Tail somewhat long, graduated. 



Sp. Spasornis curvirostris, Lanius curvirostris L., Briss. OrnitJi. ii. PI. 19, 

 fig. I ; Buff. PI. enl. 228; Madagascar. This bird resembles in miniature 

 some species of Barita, as Barita varia (Craciicus), p. 487, but differs on 

 the first inspection by the round form of the nostrils. 



Lanius L. (excl. of some species.) Bill moderate or short, 

 strong, compressed, higher than broad, mostly curved, furnished 

 with a tooth on each side towards the tip. Nostrils placed at the 

 base of bill or a little in front of the base, often covered by bristles. 

 Tarsi longer than middle toe, scutellate anteriorly. Wings mode- 

 rate, with first quill short, third and fourth mostly subequal, longest 

 of all. Tail somewhat long or moderate. 



Falcuncidus Yieill. Bill short, curved, much compressed, with 

 keel produced amongst the feathers of forehead. Wings with fourth 

 and fifth quills longest of all. Tail even or subemarginate. Tarsi 

 moderate. 



Sp. Lanius frontatus Lath., Temm. PL col. 77, Cuv. R. Ani., eel. ill., Ois. 

 PI. 16, fig. I ; Australia; of the size of Lanius collurio, and almost simi- 

 larly coloured to Parus major. The feathers of the head form a crest. 



Prionops Vieill. Bill curved, moderate. Erect plumes of head 

 forming a compressed crest, produced beyond the base of bill. 

 Wings long, with fourth, fifth and sixth quills subequal, fifth 

 longest of all. Tail somewhat long, rounded. 



Sp. Lanius plumatiis Shaw, Prionops Geoffroyi, Vieill. Gal. PI. 142, Less. 

 Ornith. PI. 44, fig. i, Swains. Birels of W. Afr. i. PI. 26; Senegal; 

 white, the wings and tail black, with a white streak on the wings; a 

 naked ring round the eyes, the legs pale yellow (in the other species of this 

 family they are commonly black like the bill). — Lanius poliocephalus, 

 Prionops cristatus Ruepp. &c. 



Lanius auct. Bill curved. Wings with third and fourth quills 

 subequal, longest of all. Tail somewhat long, rounded or cuneate. 



^ From (TTrda), to cb-aw off, to tear. 



