PASSERINE. 255 
In some of these straight-beaked Shrikes, that organ is very stout, 
and its lower mandible much inflated. (1) 
Others, whose beak is straight and slender, are remarkable for 
vertical tufts of feathers.(2) 
Around these Shrikes, properly so called, some other subgenera, 
which differ from them more or less, form natural groups. Such 
are the 
Vanea, Buff. 
Which have a large beak, very much compressed throughout, its 
tip much hooked, and that of the inferior mandible bent down- 
wards.(3) 
Ocyrrervs, Cuy.(4) 
The beak, conical, rounded, without a ridge, slightly arcuated 
towards the end, with a very fine point slightly notched on each 
side; the feet rather short, and the wings as long as the tail, and 
longer; from which circumstance their flight is rendered similar to 
that of the Swallow; but they have the courage of the Shrikes, and 
do not fear to attack even the Crow. (5) 
Numerous species inhabit the coast and islands of the Indian 
I also place here that bird which has been so bandied about by naturalists, the 
Merle de Mindanao of Buff. Enl. 627, Turdus mindanensis, Lath and Gm. the 
same as their Gracula saularis, Little Pie of the Indies, or Dial-bird, Albin. III, 17 
and 18, Edw. 181, Vaill. Afr. 109 (Sturnus solaris, Daud.)—and even the Tbrat 
boulan ( Turdus orientalis), Enl. 273, 1, might be approximated to it, but is also 
very closely allied to the Turdoides. 
The genus Tuamnorntius or Battara of Vieillot is formed by one of these 
straight beaked Shrikes, but is so badly determined that other authors have refer- 
red to it, Vireos, &c. 
(1) Lanius lineatus, Leach, Zool. Miscell. pl. vi.—Zhamnophilus guttatus, 
Spix, 35. 
(2) The Geoffroy, Vaill. Afr. 80 and 81, and Vieill. Gal. 142 (Lan. plumatus, Sh.), 
of which Vieill. has made his genus Prionors, or Bogadais, Galer. 142 and the 
Manicup. Buff. Enl. 707 (Pipra albifrons,Gm.}, which has nothing more in common 
with the Pipra than 2 somewhat unusual prolongation of the union between the 
two external toes. Vieill. has made his genus Preys, Galer. 129, from it. 
(3) The Vanga, Enl, 228, (Lan. curvirostris, Gm.) and new species, such as the 
V. destructeur, Cuy. Col. 273.—The V. strié huppé, Voy. de Freyc. pl. xviii and 
_ xix, or Thamnophilus Vigorsii, Zool. Journ. Supp. VIL and VIL. 
(4) Ocypterus or oxypterus—rapid wings, pointed wings—the Greek name of 
an unknown bird, very pumas to these. It is from this genus that Vieill. has 
’ made his ARTAMUs. 
(5) Sonnerat, Pr. Voy. p. 56. 
