ORDER PASSERES. 487 



The present bird clearly belongs to the small intermediate 

 group thus pointed out. 



The head, neck, and throat are violet-black, with a crest, 

 not long, but inclining forward, and behind the eye is a large 

 subquadrangular red patch ; on the sides of the neck and upper 

 part of the breast there are various lunated black and white 

 patches ; the wings, back, and upper side of tail-feathers are 

 of a delicate ash colour, with the edge of each feather lighter 

 than the rest ; beneath the bird is white, with a slight tinge 

 of ash ; the vent is red. 



We must now dismiss the shrikes proper ; for notwithstand- 

 ing the number of species, there is nothing more in their con- 

 formation, manners, or habits, to entitle them to any further 

 notice here. 



, The species which compose the genus Laiigraj/en, or Swal- 

 low Shrikes, are found in Africa, India, and Australasia. 

 Little is known of them beyond their exterior. With long 

 and pointed wings, sometimes exceeding the tail in length, 

 they have the mode of flying peculiar to the swallows, per- 

 petually and rapidly chasing the insect tribes which appear to 

 constitute their principal source of subsistence. According to 

 Sonnerat, they add to this attribute, all the courage of the 

 shrikes, and do not hesitate even to attack the raven. From 

 this the Baron has denominated them Swallow-Shrikes, and 

 Ocypterusy from the conformation of their wings. 



Of the Cassicans nothing is known with any certainty 

 except their forms and colours ; they are all natives of Aus- 

 tralasia and Polynesia. 



The Becards have many relations with the shrikes and 

 tyrants, and were originally classed by naturalists with the 

 former. But they do not possess the generic characters of the 

 shrikes, as a simple comparison is sufficient to prove. (See 

 Text.) The name Becarde was given them by Buffon, from 

 the thickness and length of their bill. Their forms are not so 



2 K 2 



