194 VANGA GRISEIPECTUS 
rapid and straight. They live singly, and from time to time 
give out a piercing whistle, which reveals their presence, and 
is said to be most frequently heard during fine weather. The 
nest is placed in a bush some two or three yards from the 
eround and the eggs are white spotted with grey and 
brownish red, mostly so towards the thick end, and measure 
1:2 x 0°84. The bird is known on the island as _ the 
*Vanga.’ ” 
A nest is described by Dr. P. L. Sclater (P. Z. S., 1863, 
p. 163) as ‘‘an open cup-shaped structure, composed of small 
sticks, roots and fibres, lined with rather finer materials of 
the same description. The interior is about 24 inches in 
diameter, the whole mass measuring 7 inches in diameter. 
The eggs are white, spotted with two shades of red, and 
measure 1°2 by 0°8 inch.” 
Sir Edward Newton writes (Ibis, 1863, p. 348): ‘“ No- 
where common, and from its retiring habits, much oftener 
heard than seen.” 
Vanga griseipectus, n. sp. (Pl. 50.) 
Types. Differ from the more northern V. cuwrvirostris in the black of 
the head extending forward, more or less, over the whole crown; collar and 
under parts, with the exception of the pure white chin and under tail- 
coverts, pale silvery grey; the white margins on the secondaries rather 
narrower and less strongly marked; in the males the black on the top of 
the head is quite as much extended as in the females of the northern form, 
while the females of V. griseipectus have the remainder of the crown and 
the forehead mottled with black. Total length 9-7 and 10-5 inches, culmen 
1:15, wing 4:3, tail 4:25, tarsus 115. Saralahan, g, 2 (Crossley). 
The Grey-breasted Vanga replaces V. curvirostris in 
southern Madagascar. 
This species, which I here distinguish under the name 
V. griseipectus on account of the grey shade on the breast, 
is quite as strongly characterized by the great amount of 
