ORANGE-BREASTED BUSH-SHRIKE. 245 



much resembling this, hut ours is as unlike a Vanga 

 as it is a Corvus, and therefore we esteem it new. 

 The beautiful golden yellow of the under plumage, 

 especially the orange of the breast, renders it very 

 conspicuous. 



Of its habits unfortunately we know nothing, but 

 its structure gives some intimation of what they are. 

 Like the other species of Malaconotus, the wings 

 are short and rounded ; thus proving that the birds 

 of this genus do not fly at or pursue their prey in 

 the manner of the true Shrikes ; and yet the shape 

 of the bill, when compared to that of the more typi- 

 cal Bush-shrikes, would lead us to suspect that this 

 organ was used to tear their food. The general 

 structure, however, particularly the great inequality 

 of the lateral toes, shows its intimate connexion to 

 Malaconotus. 



Size of the common red-backed Shrike (L. col- 

 lurio). Front of the head yellow, extending in a 

 stripe over each eye-brow, but not so far as the ears ; 

 from the front to the middle of the back the plu- 

 mage is clear cinereous or light slate colour, which 

 extends to the ears, sides of the neck, and the space 

 between the eye and bill ; all the rest of the uppei 

 plumage is bright yellowish olive ; the concealed 

 parts of the quills being brown, and the tips of the 

 greater covers, secondaries, tertials, and lateral tail- 

 feathers yellowish white. The whole of the under 

 parts are of a full and bright yellow, of uniform 

 depth, except on the breast, where it deepens into 

 rich orange ; the bill and claws are black. 



