VANGIDZ 183 
Plumage of young either similar to that of the adult or with some 
pale bars. 
With the exception of the form of the bill, and the rictal-bristles, all 
the members of this family present a striking affinity to each other, 
especially in the form of the wing. Their place is between the Corvide 
and the Laniide. Some of the species have no rictal-bristles and the 
young plumage similar but duller than in the adults; others have the 
rictal-bristles well developed and many have the plumage of the young 
barred. The bars on the plumage, when present in the young only, are 
white as in the Dicruride. Vanga curvirostris shows a marked aftinity to 
the Crow-Shrikes of Australia (Cracticus) in the lengthened form of the 
bill and the peculiarly barred tail, and to the Lanitde generally in the 
hooked and notched bill and strongly developed rictal-bristles. 
KEY TO THE GENERA. 
a. Bill with no distinct notch on the upper mandible ; 
rictal-bristles absent or very feebly developed. 
a1, Mandible curved upwards, leaving a space 
between it and the maxilla =) « « =» » Xenopirostris. 
61, Mandible fitting close to the maxilla. 
a*, Bill shorter and less conical; upper parts 
greenish black or bright blue; underparts white. Artamia. 
62, Bill long and somewhat conical, with the 
culmen straight to the hooked end; plumage 
above and below alike. . . Oriolia. 
6. Bill with a distinct notch in the appen meets 
ct, Bill not so deep as the head. 
c2, Tail rounded; nostrils not overhung by a 
membrane covered with small plumes; wing 
not less than 3°5 inches. 
a’. Bill blackish ; much compressed at the sides ; 
culmen straight to the hook and the bare 
portion dividing the frontal feathers . . . Vanga. 
b8. Bill grey and wider; culmen covered by the 
frontal feathers to the nostrils . . . Lantzia. 
d?. Tail square; nostrils overhung by a nenbrns 
covered with small plumes; wing less than 3 
inches . . . . Calicalhicus. 
d+, Bill deeper than the head oa bright Bee . . . Aérocharis. 
