30 



NATURAL HISTORY. 



exceedingly wary and watchful, always perching on the loftiest and most exposed trees : in which 

 respect they differed from the preceding species, though they resembled it in the manner in which 

 they were feeding when I first saw them." 



HELMET SHRIKE. 



GROUP II. CICHLOMORPH^E, THRUSH-LIKE PASSERES. 



THE SIXTH FAMILY OF THRUSH-LIKE PERCHING BIRDS. 

 THE CUCKOO SHRIKES (Campophagtdai)* 



These birds are also known by the name of Caterpillar-catchers and Miiiivets, and are entirely 

 peculiar to the Old World, but do not occur in the Palsearctic region : that is to say, they are absent 

 from Europe and Northern Asia ; one species only, the Grey Minivet (Pericrocotus t cinereus), extend- 

 ing its range into the country of the Amoor in the eastern part of this region. In appearance these 

 birds have much in common with the Shrikes, or rather, with the Wood Shrikes of the preceding pages ; 

 the bill, however, is always rather depressed or flattened, showing an approach to the true Flycatchers, 

 but they are easily recognisable by the stiffened shafts of the rump-feathers, which gives this part a prickly 

 feeling when the thumb is gently pressed directly on to the feathers of the lower back and rump. Very 

 little has been recorded of the habits of the African or Indian species ; but Mr. Gould has given a very 

 interesting account of the Australian Cuckoo Shrikes. This continent, and the neighbouring islands of 

 the Malay Archipelago, possess a large number of species ; and of one of the largest, the Black-faced 

 Cuckoo Shrike (Graucalus melanops), Mr. Gould writes as follows: "It is a very common bird 

 in New South Wales, but is far less numerous in winter than in summer, when it is so generally 

 dispersed over the colony that to particularise situations in which it may be found is quite un- 

 necessary : hills of moderate elevation, flats, and plains thinly covered with large trees, being alike 

 resorted to ; but I do not recollect meeting with it in the midst of the thick bushes situations 

 which, probably, are uncongenial to its habits and mode of life. It is very abundantly dispersed 

 over the plains of the interior, such as the Liverpool and those which stretch away to the north- 

 ward and eastward of New South Wales. Its flight is undulating and powerful, but is seldom 

 exerted for any other purpose than that of conveying it from one part of the forest to another, 

 or to sally forth in pursuit of an insect which may pass within range of its vision while perched 

 upon some dead branch of a high tree, a habit common to this bird and other members of the 

 genus. On such an elevated perch it sometimes remains for hours together, but during the heat 

 of the day seeks shelter from the rays of the sun by shrouding itself amidst the dense foliage of 



), a caterpillar ; Qayflv, to eat. 



t "?', round about ; Kpoar6^, saffron-coloured. 



