— 
PASSERINE. 275 
lengthened out intoatuft. It is of great use in warm climates, 
by destroying Grasshoppers.(1) 
Another species, Paradisza tristis, Gm.; Gracula pare Lath. 
and Shaw; Gracula gryllivora, Daud. Enl. 219, has become cel- 
ebrated for similar services rendered to the Isle of France. It 
feeds, however, on every thing, builds on the Palms, and is very 
docile. 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 abdo- 
men and the tips of the lateral tail quills are white.(2) 
(1) Since my first edition was published, I have satisfied myself of the certainty 
of the generic affinity of this species with the Gracula, Cuy. 
(2) Itis 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 yariety of the common one;--the Porte lambcauz, 
Vaill. Afr. pl. xciii, and xciy, which is the Gr. carunculata, Gm., or the Gr. larvata, 
Shaw, or the Sturnus gallinaceus, Daud.;—the Martin brame, Rete pagodarum, 
Vaill. Afr., 95, and Vieill. Gal. 148. The first 7! malabaricus, the T. ginginianus, 
the TY dominicanus, 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 
» “C0. aL conjecturally, the J'urdus ochrocephalus, Lath. (Sturn. ceylanicus, Gm.) 
_ Brown, a | XK. 
N.B. We cannot ascertain what type was taken by Linnzus and his followers 
for their genus GRacura. Linneus first formed it in his tenth edition of seven very 
} discordant species, viz. I religiosa, Eulabes, C.; 2, fetida, which I suspect to be the 
Cél nu, that is to say allied to Ampelis; 3, barita, and 4, quiscala, which belong to 
Cassicus; 5, cristatella, which is a Gracula, Cuy.; 6, saularis, or rather solaris, which 
isa straight-beaked Shrike, and the same bird as 7° mindanensis, Enl. 627, 1; 
\ finally, 7, .4tthis, which is a Thrush. 
In the 12th ed. he added the Gracula calva, and placed the common gracula, Cuy. 
among the birds of Paradise. 
Gmelin, in imitation of Pallas, added a xanthornus (Gr. longirostra.).* He also 
‘placed there the porte-lambeaux (Gr. carunculata), still leaving the common one 
among the Birds of Paradise; finally, he placed there the Gr, cayennensis, which 
isa 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 (J'wrdus pagodarum and malabaricus). Finally, Shaw has put the 
finishing touch to the matter, by transferring to the genus in question three Baritz, 
(his Gr. strepera, varia and tibicen,) and adding to them the T'alapiot, which is a 
Creeper or a Nuthatch (Gr. picoides). Genera, thus formed, certainly excuse the 
ill humour of the enemies of systems, if they do not justify it. See the Mem. of M. 
Lichtenstein, Acad. of Berlin, 1817. 
* Ido not know the Gracula sturnina of Pallas. 
} Neither dol know the Grac. melanocephala and viridis of Latham; but I suspect 
they also belong to my Philedons. 
