VANGA CURVIROSTRIS 193 
Type. 
Vanga, Vieill. Analyse, p. 41 (1816). V. curvirostris. 
Spasornis, Van der Hoeven, Handb. Zool. if p: 549 
(1852-56) . biamitee Spier ott pels V. curvirostris. 
The genus is confined to Madagascar, and consists of two very nearly 
allied species. 
KEY TO THE SPECIES. 
a. Forehead, front of crown, neck and under parts pure white cwrvirostris. 
b. Much more black on top of head in the males; neck and 
breast tinted with grey . griserpectus. 
Vanga curvirostris. 
Lanius curvirostris, Linn. 8. N. i. p. 135 (1766) Madagascar. 
Vanga curvirostris, Milne Edw. and Grand. Hist. Madag. Ois. i. p. 423, 
pls. 160a, figs. 2, 166, 167; pl. 304, fig. 5 egg (1885); Gadow, 
Cat. B. M. viii. p. 104 (1883); Sibree, Ibis, 1891, p. 440; Shelley, 
B, Afr. i. No. 658 (1896) ; Sharpe, Handl. B. iv. p. 263 (1908). 
Thamnophilus leucocephalus (non Gm.), Vieill., N. Dict. d’Hist. Nat. 
xxxv. p. 200 (1819). 
Le Vanga, Buff. Hist. Nat. Ois. i. p. 312 (1770). 
Adult male.—Hinder half of the crown, nape, back, upper tail-coverts 
and the wings black, the latter with broad white edges to the greater coverts, 
and to three of the secondaries ; basal two-thirds of the tail ashy grey, the 
remainder black, with white ends to the feathers; front half of the crown, 
sides of head, entire neck and the under parts pure white. ‘Iris brown; 
bill black ; feet pearl-grey.” Total length 10-2 inches, culmen 1:1, wing 
4:25, tail 4:2, tarsus, 1-1. Madagaszar (Gerrard). 
Adult female. Differs in having the black patch on the head broader 
and extending over the hinder half of the crown, while the base of the neck 
and the under parts are faintly tinted with grey. 
The Hook-billed Vanga inhabits the northern half of 
Madagascar. 
According to Milne Edwards and Grandidier: “ the 
Vangas are of general distribution, at least, where there 
are small woods and forests, usually perching on bushes, where 
they remain motionless among the leaves watching for their 
prey, which consists mostly of orthoptera. Their flight is 
