243 



BARBARY OR YELLOW CROWNED BUSH-SHRIKE. 



Malaconotus Barbaras, SWAINS. 

 PLATE XXIV. 



Above glossy black ; beneath crimson ; crown fulvous yellow ; 

 vent and flanks buff, Zool. Illust., ii. pi. 71. 



Lanius Barbaras, Linn. Auct. Laniarius Barbaras, Vieill., 

 Ency. Meth. Orti. p. 755. Pie-grieche du Senegal, Buffon^ 

 PI. Enl. 56 Le Gonoleck, Le Vaill. Ois. cTAfrique, ii. 

 pi. 69 Malaconotus Barbarus, Zool. Illust., 2d series, pi. 71. 



THIS is one of the most splendid of a small group or 

 section of the Bush-shrikes whose plumage is a 

 union of black with the richest crimson. It has 

 received its name from having heen first found on 

 the coast of Barbary ; it is, however, one of the com- 

 monest and most showy birds of Senegal, and it 

 even extends almost through the whole length of 

 Africa ; for Le Vaillant discovered it on the con- 

 fines of the Namaquois nation, bordering upon the 

 Cape territory. This would appear to be nearly its 

 southern confines, since Le Yaillant mentions his 

 being unable to procure more than three specimens, 

 nor could he ascertain any thing of its manners. 



There is a slight difference in structure between 

 this and the type of its genus, inasmuch as the 

 outer toe is only attached to the middle one at the 

 base of the first joint, leaving the joint itself entirely 

 free. It is consequently nearer in the series of 



