PASSEllES. 239 



(B.) Gape of the ordinary size. 



(a.) Upper mandible, with a groove or notch in the mar- 

 gin, on each side, near the end. This division constitutes 

 the Dentirostres of Cuviek. In reference to this mark, 

 it may be stated, that when it is very well marked, the spe- 

 cies are usually rapacious in their manners. 



Upper mandible hooked at the end. The birds of this 

 division are ranked by many, among the Accipitres, with 

 which, in manners, they correspond. Tiicy differ, how- 

 ever, in the want of cere. 



1. Bill compressed. 



{a a.) Ridge of the upper mandible arched. 



Base triangular. Upper mandible arched. Laniusida\ 



58. Lanius. Shrike. Ridge of the upper mandible 

 rounded. Nostrils surrounded with bristles. L. excuhitor. 



59. Graucalus. Mandibular ridge sharp. Nostrils 

 covered with feathers. Corvus Papuensis. 



Bill rounded at the base. Upper mandible slightly 

 arched, nearly straight at the base, and rounded above. 

 Front feathers notched by the base of the bill. 



60. Barita. Bill nearly conical, large. Paradiseea vi- 

 j'idis. 



Front plain. 



61. OxYPTERUs. Bill shai-p-pointed. Wings extending 

 beyond the tail. Feet short. Lanius LcticorinchAis. 



62. P SARIS. Bill very large. L. cayenus. 



{h h.) Ridge of the upper mandible nearly even. Beak 

 conical. Base of the bill triangular. ^Vings short. Tan-^ 

 garadfE. The characters of this family have been imper- 

 fectly determined, and the genera into which it may be 

 divided yet remain to be instituted. M. Cuvier has given 

 indications of some of the groups. 



