44 ON THE RUFOTJS-TAILED SHEIKES. [18G7. 



by Prince Bonaparte (Rev. Zool. 1853), equal to L. hijpoleucus, Blyth (J. A. S. B. 1848, p. 249), 

 ex Pegu. It is a well-marked distinct race of L. vittafus, Val. (Diet. Sc. Nat. 1826, xl. p. 227), 

 described from specimens obtained at Pondicherry, and brought to France by Leschenault ; for 

 Valenciennes's description, as already shown by Prince Bonaparte {I. c), distinctly applies to the 

 common Bay-backed Shrike of India, very abundant on the Coromandel coast. Mr. Vigors's 

 designation of Collurio hardwickii (P. Z. S. 1831, p. 42) must therefore be cancelled. 



Ex Malacca 



5. Lanius magnirostris, Less., Bel. Voy. 1834, p. 251 (ex Les Indes) ; Compl. de Buff. ii. 

 p. 415. 



Lanius strigatus, Eyton, P. Z. S. 1839, p. 103 (ex Malay Penin.). 



Laniusferox, Drap., Diet. Sc. N. 1842, viii. p. 366 (ex Java]). 



Enneoctonus crassirostris, Kuhl, Bp., Consp. 1850, i. p. 362. sp. 6 (ex Java]), (v. Hasselt), 

 Cab., Mus. Hein. 1850-51, Th. i. p. 72. no. 415, sp. 4, ex Java (]). 



Lanius crassirostris, Kuhl, v. Pelzeln, Nov. Reise, Zool. Th. p. 84 (ex Malacca). 

 ILi8.1867, Otomela crassirostris (Kuhl), Bp. Rev. de Zool. 1853, p. 437. sp. 31 (ex Java?). 



P" ^^^" Lanius tigrinus, Drap., Blyth, Cat. Mus. Calc. p. 152. no. 875 (Malacca) (nee Drap.). 



(Plate VI. fig. 1, c^, fig. 2, ?, in orig.) 



A very small species of Shrike, perhaps the smallest of the genus, with a stout, almost 

 disproportionate bill, and with the upper plumage generally deep rufous-brown, verging on 

 chocolate, much striated with fine dark lines, the crown of the head, in old males, cinereous, 

 seems to be common in the Malay Peninsula and exists in Sumatra. It and assumed Javan 

 individuals have been described as distinct by several authors, and under separate names ; and in 

 their turns these titles have been regarded by subsequent writers as synonyms of one anothor, as 

 well as of others of the older species already noticed. It is a well-marked form, readily to be 

 distinguished by its diminutive size, grey head in the male, and very thick bill ; yet materials 

 necessary for a permanent rectification of its synonymy are still wanting, and will remain 

 incomplete until specimens of the form described as existing in Java are brought together and 

 compared with those of Malacca and Sumatra. One, if not two, species, apparently nearly allied 

 to the Malay form, have by different authors been described as inhabiting Java. And yet I can find 

 no satisfactory evidence that a Shrike of that race actually inhabits the island at all. No Javan 

 examples are preserved in the British or East-Indian Museums. Nor did Mr. Wallace meet with 

 any such species in Java, although he procured several specimens in Sumatra. The localities given 

 by Drapiez generally require collateral support ; and the same may be said of those contained in 

 the 'Museum Ileineanum:' while in the 'Conspectus,' on the subject of localities, Bonaparte is 

 singularly inaccurate. If a thick-billed rufous Shrike does occur in Java, it will still remain to 

 be shown whether it be the same as, or specifically distinct from, the Malay bird. In the absence 

 of Javan examples, and of any reliable evidence of their occurrence, I have brought all those 

 titles which refer to alleged Javan specimens of the thick-billed form under Lesson's designa- 



