Description of Crulopus bicolor. 85 



found a beautiful analysis of this family, particularly the Norili 

 American forms, fully detailing the affinities ; this species, with 

 many others, was submitted to the inspection of Mr. Swainson, 

 and it was at once set down as an aberrant form of the genus. 



The general appearance of these birds is, — a strong, some- 

 what curved, bill; loose plumage, considerably elongated on 

 the backs, like the puff-backed shrikes, (malaconoti.) or the 

 American bush-shrikes, (thamnophili , ;) the wings rather short 

 and rounded, the tail long and graduated, and the tarsi and feet 

 strong. Mr. Swainson remarks — " It appears that most of the 

 typical species principally live in the vicinity of water, among 

 reeds: their notes are particularly loud, harsh, and grating; 

 and, in these retreats, they keep up a perpetual monotonous 

 babbling. Some, however, possess much more harmony, but 

 nearly all appear to frequent only low trees and shrubs. Their 

 geographic range is almost limited to the warm latitudes of the 

 old world."" The colours are different shades of brown and 

 black ; the present species, however, is remarkably distiact in 

 the pure black and white of the plumage. It exhibits the 

 scaly form of the feathers which is found on the head and neck 

 of many of them, and the secondaries and tail retain the 

 curious waved form of the shafts, giving the appearance of 

 bars upon the webs, in different lights. The feathers on the 

 rump are also of considerable length. The following is a de- 

 scription of the only two specimens I have ever seen. They 

 were both received, among a very large and valuable collection 

 of skins, from Dr. Smith, the superintendent of the South 

 African Museum. The one is now before me, the other is in 

 the Collection of Mr. Selby. The only notice accompanying 

 the skins was, " They are said to be gregarious," and I am 

 ignorant of what particular district of South Africa they are 

 natives. The length is ten inches and three-fourths. The bill 

 black, somewhat more curved than usual, running into poma- 

 torhinus. The quills, secondaries, bastard pinion, and tail, 

 deep brownish black; the rest of the plumage very clear white. 

 The wings are rather more pointed than in the true types, and 

 the tail scarcely so long in proportion. 



• Northern Zool, ii. 157. 



