BLACK SHRIKE. 18' 



BLACK SHRIKE.* 

 Jridy. — Mountain Dick. 



Tityra leuconotus. 

 Tityra leuco7iotus, G. R. Gray. — Gen. pi. 63. 



This species, hitherto un described, is named and 

 figured by Mr. G. R. Gray, in his " Genera of 

 Birds," from specimens procured by myself. It 

 IS not uncommon in the mountain districts of Ja- 

 maica, where, from the remarkable diversity in 

 the appearance of the male and female, they are 

 distinguished by separate local names. The black 

 male is known by the feminine appellation of Judy, 

 while the chestnut-headed female receives the mas- 

 culine soubriquet of Mountain Dick. Mr. Gray, 

 from his acquaintance with the genus, I presume, 

 was able to identify the sexes by an examination 

 of dried skins, while I was long in coming to the 

 same conclusion, from observation of the living 

 birds. Yet I early suspected it ; their form and 



* Length J^ to 8 inches, expanse 13, tail 3^, flexure 4, rictus 1^, 

 breadth of beak at base -^, tarsus 1 , middle toe -^. 



Male. Irides, very dark hazel ; beak black ; feet blue-grey. Whole 

 plumage black, save that the bases of the scapulars are pure white, forming 

 a white band on each shoulder, generally concealed by the plumage of 

 the back. The throat and breast are of a paler hue, and the upper parts 

 are glossed with blue and green reflections. Female. Head rich umber, 

 softening into bay on the throat and breast ; throat whitish ; back 

 brownish grey ; wing-feathers umber externally, blackish medialh', palcj. 

 on the inner webs : tail blackish umber, paler beneath ; belly pale grej*. 

 Head large ; crown feathers erectile. Intestine 9^ inches. Two 

 cseca, rudimentary ; like minute pimples. 



