COLLURIO. 



446 



m 



coverts gray. \Ving« and tail black, varied with whitt ; tlio former sliowing 

 externally a large white patch at husen of jiriinai ies, and broad whiti' i\])» to 

 the secondaries. The white on primaries extends nearly as far as tho tip ol^ 

 the 1st quill ; the inner webs of the secondaries (excepting the iiinernio.''t 

 ones) are pure white to the sliaft for their basal half, the posterior border of 

 the patch perpendicular to tho shaft ; this color also bor<lering tbe web for 

 half its width to the und, and quite abruptly defined. Tlie tail feathers are 

 apparently without any concealed white at their bases, although tho discon- 

 nected fibres aro grayish ; the outer feather lias the terminal third and all 

 the outer web white ; the amount of white limiuiahes iu the 2d, 3d, and 4th 

 feathers ; the Tith and (»th entirely black. 



There is a broad black band from bill tlirough and behind eye, and im- 

 variefl by white, aa in e.xr.nlntoroi'les, and with a well defined narrow frontal 

 line of the same color ; the loral region, however, exhibits a tinge of deep 

 ashy ; the bill and legs are black. 



Total length, 8.75 ; wing, 4.20; tail, 4.40, graduation, 1.00 ; exposed por- 

 tion of Ist primary, 1.35, of 2d, 2.60, of longest (measured from exjwsed base 

 of 1st primary), 2.95; length of bill from forehead, 1.00, from nostril, .59, 

 along gape, 1.10, depth, .39; tarsus, 1.20; middle toe and claw, .95, claw 

 aloue, .34 ; hind toe and claw, .70, claw alone, 33. 



The description given above is taken from a specimen in the col- 

 lection of the Philadelphia Academy, labelled as having been col- 

 k'cted iu California by Dr. Gambel, and is very decidedly different 

 from any of the recognized North American species. Of nearly 

 the size of G. excubitoroides and luduoicianus, it ha.s a bill even 

 more powerful than that of C borealis. In its unwaved under 

 parts and uniform color of the entire upper surface, except scapulars, 

 it difl'ers from borealis and excubitoroides, and resembles ludomci- 

 anm. In the extension of white over tho inner webs of the secon- 

 daries, it closely resembles C. excubitor. The great restriction of 

 white at the base of tho tail — the four central feathers being entirely 

 black, and the bases of the others grayish-ashy — is quite peculiar 

 to the species. ,, : ,., . ',. 



I am by no means satisfied that the bird here described is the true 

 Lanius elegans of Swainson — there being several marked differences 

 from his description. In the essential features, however, of the 

 larger size, especially of the bill, the concolored forehead, the scarcely 

 lighter rump, and the greater amount of white on the inner webs 

 of the secondaries, there is a decided accordance. In Swainson's 

 bird the tail seems to be almcvit as white as in extremes of colora- 

 tiuu of cxcubitoroidts, instead of being much blacker than usual. 



C'ollurio excubitoroides. 



Lanius excubitoroides, Swainson, F. B. A. II, 1831, 115 (Saskatchewan). 

 — Oambel, Pr. A. N. Sc. 1847, 200 (Gala.).— Cassin, I'r. A. N. Sc. 



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