50 OX LAXIUS MELAXTHES AND LANIUS CEPHALOMELAS. [1868. 



that Dicrurm edoUiformis, Blyth, is D. lophorhinns, Vieill. (N. Diet, d'llist. Nat. 752), founded 

 on le Drongup of Lcvaillaut (Ois. d'Afr. iv. pi. 173), the type of wliich is still preserved at Ley den, 

 where it was shown me by my amiable and most learned friend Professor Schlegel ; that 

 J), leucojii/gialis, Blyth, is Oriolus furcatus, Gm. (Syst. Nat. i. p. 395), founded on Brisson's 

 Icterus Cauda bifida (Oni. ii. p. 1U5), which in its turn was founded on Seba's '■'■ Tardus niger 

 mexicanus" ( Locupl. Eerum Nat. Thes. i. p. 102, pi. G5. fig. 2), and referred by Wagler (Syst. 

 Av. fol. 23. p. 12) to Z* ccerulescens (Linn.) ; and that Temenuchus alhofrontutus (Layard), 1854, 

 must give way to '■'Pastor senex; Temm. Mus. Lugd.," Bp. (Consp. i. p. 419). E.xamples in the 

 senejc-itnte of plumage, that is with the entire head grey, appear to be rare ; for in a considerable 

 series of Ceylon specimens of the species 1 have only met with one as described by Bonaparte. 

 Its Bengal origin, as given in the ' Conspectus,' is of course erroneous. 



I have, «S:c., 



Walden. 



18G8. 



D,ig^ 1868 A^o^e on Lanius melanthes, iSwinhoe, and on Lanius cephalomelas, Bj). 



P- «8. ' By Viscount Waldex, F.Z.S. [From ' The Ibis,' 1808.] 



The rediscovery in China of the dark and peculiarly coloured Shrike to which Mr. Swinhoe 

 Ibi3, 18G8, (Ibis, 18G7, p. 405) has given the title of Lanius melanthes, is of much value and interest. It 

 ^' sets at rest the doubts hitherto entertained as to the specific validity, if not as to the existence 



even, of such a Shrike ; and although 1 have not had an opportunity of seeing Mr. Swiuhoe's 

 specimen, he has so fully described it that I have no hesitation in referring it to the Lanius 

 fuscatus oi Lesson, who appears to have first discriminated this species, giving in 1831 (Traite 

 d'Ornithologie, p. 373) the following short notice of it — " Pie-grieche enfumee, Lanius fuscatus. 

 Plumage brun de suie enfume," — but without mentioning any locality for it. 



In his " Monographic des Laniens " (Rev. et Mag. de Zool. 1863, p. 434, note) Bonaparte 

 refers to Lesson's species in these words : — " Quid Lanius fuscatus. Lesson, Mus. Paris, ex China: 

 luride fumigatus, alis caudaque brevioribus, sed rostro typicol" 



Fortunately, the type-specimen came under the critical notice of M. Pucheran. In that 

 author's admirable paper on the " Types Uentii-ostres " of the Paris Museum (Arch, du Mus. 

 vii. p. 368, 1854-1855) we find these remarks: — '■'■ Lanius fuscatus. * * * Cet individu 

 m'est indique comme originaire de Chine. Ses teintes sont bien noiriltres, surtout sur les 

 cotes et en avant du cou. II y a une teinte rousse en dessus, en dedans des tectrices alaires 

 superieures. Cet exemplaire est de grande taille comme le Ijanius shach. Est-ce une variete 

 melanienne % Est-ce un individu \Taiment enfume ] Ce sont des questions que I'avenir seul est 

 appelc h. resoudre." These questions Mr. Swinhoe has been able to answer. He does not regard 

 it as a melanism, and it really seems to be a good species. 



A specimen of tliis Shrike, preserved in the Leyden Museum, appears also to have attracted 



