166 BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA. 



whitish; ksser wing-covers grey-brown ; tail, composed of 

 large fluffy feathers, is black, slightly tipped with white ; 

 bill black; tarsi brown. Length, 17 ceuti meters French. 



Quoted by Lesson as from the Cape of Good Hope. Sed non vidi. 

 I believe this bird should be placed somewhere among the shrikes ; 

 but none of the authors that I have consulted know anything of it, 

 and I could not gain access to the work quoted. 



The Fourth Tribe, CONIROSTRES, or 

 Conical-billed Birds, 



have the bill strong, more or less conical, with the tip slightly 

 emarginated, or entire ; the wings generally moderate, and 

 pointed ; the tarsi usually long, and strongly scutellated ; 

 the toes moderate, with the outer one sometimes united at 

 its base. 



The First Family, CORVID^, or Crows, 



have the bill strong, with the base of the culmen sometimes 

 covered with projecting bristly plumes, arched, and the sides 

 compressed to the tip, which is more or less emarginated ; 

 the nostrils basal, and more or less concealed by the basal 

 plumes ; the wings generally long, and pointed ; the tail 

 moderate, or lengthened ; the tarsi and toes moderate. 



The Sub-Family, CALLOEATIN^E, or Tree- 

 Crows, 



have the bill short, with the culmen elevated at the base, and 

 much curved to the tip ; the sides compressed, and the gonys 

 long and straight ; the wings short, and rounded ; the tail 

 lengthened, and graduated ; the tarsi more or less long, and 

 covered in front with broad scales ; the toes moderate, with 

 the lateral ones unequal. 



Genus PTILOSTOMUS, Swainson. 



Bill shorter than the head, much compressed ; the culmen 

 considerably arched and curved from the base ; rictus brist- 

 led ; wings moderate, slightly rounded ; the third, fourth, 

 and fifth quills longest ; tail long, cimeated : the feathers 

 lanceolate ; feet very strong and robust ; tarsus lengthened, 

 longer than the middle toe and claw ; lateral toes short, and 

 of equal length. 



