950 BIRDS. 
thers of the head narrow, and lengthened out into a tuft. It is of 
great use in warm climates, by destroying Grasshoppers*. 
Another species, (Paradisea tristis, Gm.; Gracula tristris, Lath. 
and Shaw; Gracula gryllivora, Daud.) Enl. 219, has become ce- 
lebrated for similar services rendered to the Isle of France. It 
feeds, however, on every thing, builds on the Palms, and is very 
easily tamed and trained. Its size is that of a Thrush; brown, 
blackish about the head; a spot near the tip of the wing; the 
lower part of the abdomen and the tips of the lateral tail quills are 
white}. 
Manoruina, Vieill. 
The bill much compressed, but little arcuated, and slightly sloped; 
large nostrils, almost entirely closed by a membrane, which reduces the 
opening to a narrow slit; the neck is short. The feathers on the fore- 
head, which are as soft as those of young birds, grow partly on the 
nostrilsf. 
* Since my first edition was published, I have satisfied myself of the certainty of 
the generic affinity of this species with the Gracula, Cuv. 
+ It is difficult to imagine how Linnzus was induced to make it a Bird of Para- 
dise. To this genus also belong the Gracula cristatella, Enl. 507, and Edw. 19, which 
can hardly be considered a variety of the common one;—the Porte-lambeaux, Vaill. 
Afr. pl. xciii and xciv, which is the Gr. carunculata, Gm., or the Gr. larvata, Shaw, 
or the Sturnus gallinaceus, Daud.;—the Martin-brame, Turdus pagodarum, Vaill. Afr. 
95, and Vieill. Gal. 148. The first 7. malabaricus, the T. ginginianus, the T. domini- 
canus, Enl. 627, 2; the Martin gris de Fer, Vaill. Afr- 95, 1, and the Sturnus sericeus, 
Gm., also belong to it, as well as some new species. I also refer to it, conjecturally, 
the Turdus ochrocephalus, Lath. (Sturn. ceylanicus, Gm.), Brown, Il. xxii. 
N.B. We cannot ascertain what type was taken by Linnzus and his followers for 
their genus Gracuta. Linneus first formed it, in his tenth edition, of seven very 
discordant species, viz.: 1, religiosa, Eulabes, C.; 2, fetida, which I suspect to be 
the Col nu, that is to say, allied to Ampelis; 3, barita; and 4, quiscula, which belong 
to Cassicus; 5, cristatella, which is a Gracula, Cuv.; 6, saularis, or rather solaris, 
which is a straight-billed Shrike, and the same bird as 7. mindanensis, Enl. 627, 1; 
finally, 7, Atthis, which is a Thrush. 
In the 12th ed. he added the Goulin gracula calva, and placed the common gracula, 
Cuv. among the birds of Paradise. 
Gmelin, in imitation of Pallas, added a wanthornus (Gr. longirostra)*. He also 
placed there the Martin porte-lambeaux (Gr. carunculata), still leaving the common 
one among the Birds of Paradise; finally, he placed there the Gr. cayennensis, which 
is a Creeper. M. Latham has transferred to it the Gr. tristis, the Col nu (Gr. nuda) 
and one of my Philedons (Gr. icterops){. Daudin has placed some species after 
the said Gracula, which in fact resemble it, and two of which Gmelin had left among 
the Thrushes (Turdus pagodarum and malabaricus). Finally, Shaw has put the 
finishing touch to the matter, by transferring to the genus in question three Barite, 
(his Gr. strepera, varia, and tibicen,) and adding to them the Yalapiot, which is a 
Creeper or a Nuthatch (Gr. picoides). Genera, thus formed, certainly excuse, if 
they do not justify, the ill humour of the enemies of systems. See the Mem. of 
M. Lichtenstein, Acad. of Berlin, 1817. 
{ Manorhina viridis, Vieill. Gal. 149.—Merops albifrons, Shaw. 
* I do not know the Gracula sturnina of Pallas. 
} Neither do I know the Grac. melanocephala and viridis of Latham; but I suspect 
they also belong to my Philedons. 
