PASSERINiE. 2S5 



GrAUCALUS*, CuV. ClIOUCARIS, Buff. 



The bill less compressed than in the Shrikes ; the upper ridge is sharp 

 pointed, and equally arcuated in its whole length, the commissure slightly 

 so. The feathers, which sometimes cover their nostrils, have caused them 

 to be referred to the Ravens, but the emargination of their bill removes 

 them from tliat genus. They come, as well as the Cassicans, from the 

 remotest parts of the Indian Ocean f. 



To the Choucaris should be referred one of the most beautiful birds 

 recently discovered in these regions, the coracias puella, Lath. ; irena pu- 

 ella, Horsfield; drongo azure, Tem., a bird of Java, of a velvet black, 

 whose back is the most beautiful deep sea blue that can be imagined. 



BethyluSjJ Cuv. 



The bill stout, short, arched every where, slightly compressed near the 

 point. 



One species only is known, which, as to shape and colour, is a 

 miniature resemblance of the common European Magpie §. 



Falcunculus, VieiU. 



The bill compressed, nearly as high as it is long; the upper ridge 

 arcuated. 



The species known — Lanius frontatus, Lath. ; Second Suppl. 

 Col. 77; Vieill. Galer. 137, is of the size of the Finch, and colour- 

 ed nearly like the Parus major. The feathers on the head of the 

 male form a tuft. From New Holland. 



Pardalotus, Vieill. 



The bill short, but slightly compressed; upper ridge sharp-pointed, 

 and arcuated; the point emarginate. Very small birds, with a short 

 tail. 



The best known species, Pipra punctata, Sh. Zool. Misc. Ill; 



the Psaris erythrogenis, Selby, Zool. Jour. I. p. 484. — The Pachyrhynclius, niger, 

 Ciivieri, cinerascens, rufescens, Spix, 45 and 46, have a smaller bill but the same 

 form. 



* Graucalus, the Greek name of an ash-coloured bird, three out of four of these 

 being of this colour. Vieillot confounds them with his Coracina, which comprise 

 the Gymnoderus and Gymnocephalus, of which we shall speak hereafter. 



f Corvus papuensis, Gm. ; Enl. 630; Vieill. Galer. 113. — Corvtis novce Guinea, 

 Enl. 629. — Corvus vielanops, Lath. — RoUier a vmsqiie noir, Vaill., Ois. de Par., &c. 86. 

 — Another, entirely of a brilliant violet of browned steel, the female greenish, which 

 forms the genus Piroll of Temm., or Ptilonorhynciius of Kuhl, founded on 

 the head feathers being more like velvet. The genus Sphecothere of Vieill., 

 Galer. 147, Choucari vert of the Voy. du Freycinet, pi. xxi, only differs from the 

 others in being a little more naked about the eye. 



X Bethy/us, the Greek name of an unknown bird: Vieillot has changed it into that 

 oi Pillurion or Cissopis. 



§ It is the Pie-grU'che, Vaill. Afr. 60, and Vieill. Galer. 140. Lanius leverianus, 

 Sh.; Lanius picatus,hdX\\. lUiger makes a Tangara of it. We may approximate it 

 to the Lan. corvinus, Sh.; Vaill. Afr. 78; the bill of which, however, is more com- 

 pressed. 



x2 



