43 



scription of the gret/backed Shrike of Dr. Latliam, {Gen. Hist. vol. ii. 

 p. 9. sp.S.) but to differ from it in tlie colours uf tlie lesser wing- 

 coverts and tail ; the former being all black in tlie Himalayan spe- 

 cies, and blue grey, ending in pale riifous in Dr. Latham's, vvhile the 

 tail in the former species had four black middle feathers and the 

 ręst cinereous, but in the latter had fhe tvvo middle ones only black, 

 the ręst being vvhite. In a group exhibiting so much similarity in 

 the disposition of the colours as the present, such differences are 

 material as distinguishing species. 



CoLLuuio TEPiiRONOTUs. CoU. foscid Jrotitali pergracili ad 

 medium colli per ociilos latiiis extendente nigra ; cnpite, nuchč, 

 scapularibus, dorsoąue snUiratiiis cinereis ; colio anteriori pecto- 

 reque albescentibus, hocfu&co graciliter fosciato ; abdomine cris- 

 soque Jierrugineis ; alis cauduąue brunneo-Juscis, apicibus palli- 

 dioribus ; dorso imo tectricibusąue caudcB superioribiis subriifes- 

 centibus. 

 Tedrices alarum inferiores ferrugineo fuscoque notatse. Statura 

 paullo minor quam in specie praecedenti. 



This bird also was observed to be closely allied to the lašt, and 

 to differ from it probably only in sex or age. Until such points 

 however could be ascertained, it was considered adviseable to regard 

 it as specifically distinct. 



Another interesting modification of form was exhibited among the 

 Shrikes, in which the forked tail, acuminated wing, and short and 

 feeble legs of the birds allied to Dicrums appeared united to the 

 head and bill of some of the Stares, particularly the genus Pastor. 

 Mr.Vigors characterized the form under the generic name of 



Hypsipetes. 



Rostrum subelongatum, debile, parum curvatum, apice leviter 

 emarginatum ; naribus basalibus, lateralibus, longitudinalibus, mem- 

 brana partim ciausis ; rietus setis paucis, parum rigidis. 



Al(x subelongata2, subacuminatae ; remige prima brevi, secunda 

 longiori septima; aequali, tertia et sexta ieąualibus, quarta et quinta 

 a;qualibus longissimis. 



Pedes brevissimi, debiliores ; acrotarsiis scutellatis. 



Cauda subelongata, forficata, rectricibus extrorsum spectantibus. 



Hypsipetes Psaroides. Hyps. capite suprn subcristato, remi- 



gum apicibus, rectricibusqiie nigris ; corpore alisgue cineraceo- 



griseis ; abdomine imo crissoque pallidioribus. 



Rostįum pedesc[ue HeLvi. Tectricum a\-d\-ūm remigumąue pogonia 



interna fusca. Tedrices alarum inferiores cineraceo griseae. Lon- 



gitudo corporis. Iii; (il<^ a carpo ad apicem remigis Štiae, 5 ; rosiri 



1 ; tarsi, % ; caudce, 4-^. 



The following species were also exhibited and described. 

 MusciPETA BREVI ROSTRis. Mas. JMiisc. capitc, colio, riucha, 

 dorso superiori, alis, reclricibusgiie mcdiis splendenti-nigris ; 

 corpore iiifra, dorso imo, pteromatum apicibus, Jascia remiginn, 

 reclricibusqite lateralibus splciidide coccineis ; rostra brevi, sub- 

 debili. 



