CAMPOPHA.GA. 491 



Genus CAMPOPHAGA, VieilL, 1816. 



The genus Campophaga comprises a number of species the pre- 

 dominating colour of which is grey. The shafts of the rump- 

 feathers are spinous as in Pericrocotus and the next genus. 



In Gampopliaga the bill is comparatively weak, the tip being but 

 slightly bent down and notched ; the nostrils are nearly concealed 

 by plumes ; the wing is rather pointed, and the tail well graduated. 



The Cuckoo-Shrikes of this genus are strictly arboreal, going 

 about in small flocks and feeding on insects which they pick off 

 leaves and branches. The sexes differ : in three species very 

 slightly, in two very markedly. 



Key to the Species. 



a. Of larger size ; wing exceeding 4'5 inches, 

 a'. Grey of plumage at all ages dark bluish ; 



under tail-coverts in adults concolorous 



with abdomen C. melanoschista, p. 491. 



I'. Grey of plumage at all ages pale ; under 



tail-coverts in adults white or albescent . C. meldnoptera, p. 492. 



b. Of smaller size; wing barely exceeding 



4 inches. 

 c'. Supercilium absent or faintly indicated; 



wing about 4 inches. 

 a". Throat and abdomen in adult* uniform 



Cy C. neglecta, p. 493. 

 oat in adult black, abdomen grey. . C. sykesi <5, p. 493. 

 c". Throat and abdomen white, cross-barred 



with brown C. sykesi $ , p. 493. 



d', A. conspicuous white supercilium at all 



wing about 3'5 inches C. terat, p. 495. 



The immature birds of the first three species here treated of 

 resemble each other closely and pass through the same phases of 

 plumage. In the nestling each feather of the upper plumage has 

 a white terminal transverse bar preceded by a narrow black bar ; 

 the quills and coverts are tipped with whitish, and the whole lower 

 plumage is closely barred with white ; most of the primaries have 

 each a white patch. The young are probably two or more years 

 in attaining the adult plumage. This is effected by a gradual loss 

 of the bars and of the spots on the primaries, perfectly plumaged 

 adults losing both of these entirely. The female is much longer 

 in passing through all the stages than the male, and perfectly adult 

 females are rare. 



505. Campophaga melanoschista. The Dark-grey Cuckoo-Shrike. 



>v. i, p. 328 ( 

 xlv, pt. ii, p. 

 LO ; Hume, G 

 Bom. p. 149. 



Volvocivora melaschistus, Hodgs. IncL Eev. i, p. 328 (1837) ; Jerd. 

 B. I. i, p. 415 ; Godw.-Aust. J. A. S. B. xlv, pt. ii, p. 202 ; Hume, 

 S. F. v, p. 205 ; Ball, S. F. vii, p. 210 ; Hume, Cat. no. 2C9 ; 

 Scully, S. F. viii, p. 266 ; Barnes, Birds Bo 



* I find it impossible to introduce the young of C. neglecta and C. sykesi 

 into the Key. They vary so much. 



