726 The Sparrow-like Birds 



in the "Fauna of British India," recognizes but two subfamilies, the Laniina, 

 which embraces not only the true Shrikes but the Pied Shrikes, Wood Shrikes, 

 Jay-Shrikes, Mini vets, and the Cuckoo-Shrikes, and the Artamince, or Wood 

 Swallows. But the Cuckoo-Shrikes (Campephagidce) are now known to be 

 most closely related to the Old World Flycatchers (Muscicapida} and the Wood 

 Swallows to the Waxwings (Ampelidtz}. The Drongos, or Drongo-Shrikes 

 (DicruridcB), now thought by some to be most closely related to the Creepers 

 (Certhiid(e), were at one time placed among or near the Shrikes, and the so- 

 called W T ood Shrikes (Prionopida} are still often so placed. One of the latest 

 to pronounce upon this very puzzling group is Dr. Sharpe in his " Hand-List of 

 Birds." After setting up as separate families the Vangidce, or Vanga-Shrikes of 

 Madagascar, the Prionopida, or Wood Shrikes, and the Aerocharidce, comprising 

 only the curious Helmet-bird of Madagascar, he still admits four subfamilies in 

 the Laniidce, and we may as well follow this disposition, premising, however, that 

 neither this arrangement nor any thus far proposed is likely to be final. As the 

 appearance and habits are so different in the several groups, no general statement 

 such as that introducing most of the other families will be attempted. The mem- 

 bers of the first subfamily (Gymnorhince) are known collectively as the Crow- 

 Shrikes, this designation, as might be presumed, having reference to their marked 

 resemblance to the Crows. This likeness, which according to Dr. Gadow really 

 does not extend beyond similarity in size and color pattern, was at one time con- 

 sidered of so much importance as an indication of affinity that certain of them 

 were included directly with the typical Corvida. They are strongly built, mostly 

 large birds for the group, being between ten and twenty inches in length, and 

 have a long and straight, usually hooked bill, with the narrow nostrils completely 

 bare and situated a long distance from the line of feathers, the latter a character 

 which serves to separate them from most of the Corvida. They have long, 

 pointed wings in which there are ten primaries, the outer one being half or two 

 thirds the length of the second, the tip of the wing being formed usually by the 

 third and fourth primaries. The plumage in the members of this subfamily is 

 mostly plain, the usual colors being black, white, gray, rufous, and red, and the 

 sexes are alike or nearly so, while the young incline to brownish with cross-bars on 

 the feathers. 



Piping Crows. The Crow-Shrikes as here accepted number about two dozen 

 species, disposed among four genera, 1 and have their headquarters in Australia, 

 whence a very few range into the Papuan Islands and New Guinea, and a single 

 very peculiar one occurs in Borneo. In the typical genus (Gymnorhina), the 

 four species of which are confined to Australia and Tasmania, the bill is long, 

 straight, and pointed, with a slight notch but no hook. They are known as 

 Piping Crows or locally as Australian Magpies; the only colors in the plumage 

 are black and white. The best-known species is the Black-backed Piping Crow 

 (G. tibicen) of Australia generally, a bird about fifteen inches long, of a glossy 



1 Mr. Ridgway is of the opinion that the genera Cracticus and Strepera should be separated as 

 a distinct family (Streperidce), and this is perhaps true. 



