16G . BIRDS OF yOUTH AFRICA. 



wliitish ; Usser wing-covers grey-brown; tail, composed of 

 large flufiy feathers, is black, slightly tipped with white ^* 

 bill black ; tarsi brown. Length, 17 centimeters French. 



Quoted by Lesson as from the Cape of Good Hope. — Sed non vidi. 

 I believe this bird should be placed somewhere among the shrikes ; 

 but none of the authors that I have consulted know anything of it, 

 and I could not gain access to the work quoted. 



The Fourth Tribe, CONIROSTRES, or 

 Conical-billed Birds, 



have the bill strong, more or less conical, with the tip slightly 

 emarginated, or entire ; the wings generally moderate, and 

 pointed ; the tarsi usually long, and strongly scutellated ; 

 the toes moderate, with the outer one sometimes united at 

 its base. 



The First Family, OORVIDiE, or Crows, 



have the bill strong, with the base of the culmen sometimes 

 covered with projecting bristly plumes, arched, and the sides 

 compressed to the tip, which is more or less emarginated ; 

 the nostrils basal, and more or less concealed by the basal 

 plumes ; the wings generally long, and pointed ; the tail 

 moderate, or lengthened ; the tarsi and toes moderate. 



The Sub-Family, CALLCEATINiE, or Tree- 

 Crows, 



have the bill short, with the culmen elevated at the base, and 

 much curved to the tip ; the sides compressed, and the gonys 

 long and straight ; the wings short, and rounded ; the tail 

 lengthened, and graduated ; the tarsi more or less long, and 

 covered in front with broad scales ; the toes moderate, with 

 the lateral ones unequal. 



Genus PTILOSTOMUS, Swainson. 



Bill shorter than the head, much compressed ; the culmen 

 considerably arched and curved from the base ; rictus brist- 

 led ; wings moderate, slightly rounded ; the third, fourth, 

 and fifth quills longest ; tail long, cuneated : the feathers 

 lanceolate ; feet very strong and robust ; tarsus lengthened, 

 longer than the middle toe and claw ; lateral toes short, and 

 of equal length. 



