Order PASSERES.] [Fam. LANIID^E. 



GRAUCALUS MELANOPS. 



(BLACK-FACED SHRIKE.) 



Black-faced Crow, Lath. Gen. Syn. Suppl. ii. p. 116 (1801). 

 Corvus melanops, Lath. Suppl. Ind. Orn. p. xxiv (1801). 

 Bollier a masque noir, Levaill. Ois. de Paradis, pi. 30 (1806). 

 Ceblepyris melanops, Temm. Man. d'Orn. i. p. lxii (1820). 

 Graucalus melanojxs, Vig. & Horsf. Tr. Linn. Soc. xv. p. 216 (1826). 

 Graucahts melanotis, Gould, P. Z. S. 1837, p. 143. 

 Campeplmqa melanops, Gray, Cat. B. N. Guin. p. 32 (1859). 

 Colluricincla concinna, Hutton, Cat. B. New Zealand, p. 15 (1871). 



Ad. supra cinereus : tectricibus alarum clorso concoloribus : remigibus nigricanti-brunneis, primariis anguste, 

 secundariis latius albiclo marginatis : rectricibus nigricanti-brunneis, parte basali cinerea, pennis 

 externis ad apicem albis, duabus exterioribus graduatim oblique albis, rectrice extirua etiam albo mar- 

 ginata : facie laterali tota nigra : gutture et pectore superiore cinereis clorso concoloribus : corpore reli- 

 quo subtus albo : rostro nigro versus basin mandibular brunnescente : pedibus saturate brunneis. 



Adult. General plumage light cinereous or ashy grey ; a patch of black fills the lores, crosses the eyes, and 

 covers the cheeks and ear-coverts ; on the upper part of the breast the grey fades into white, with a 

 purplish tinge ; lower part of breast, lining of wings, flanks, abdomen, and under tail-coverts pure white ; 

 wing-feathers dark brown, the primaries narrowly and the secondaries broadly margined with greyish 

 white; tail-feathers dark brown, the two middle ones tinged with ashy grey, especially in their basal 

 portion; the lateral ones tipped progressively outwards with white, the outermost one on each side 

 having an inch at the extremity and a narrow line along the apical portion of its outer web pure white. 

 Bill black, changing to browu at the base of the lower mandible ; legs blackish brown. Total length 

 13 inches ; wing, from flexure, 8 ; tail 5'5 ; bill, along the ridge "9, along the edge of lower mandible 1'25 ; 

 tarsus T12; middle toe and claw 1*2; hind toe and claw 1. 



The example from which the above description is taken was shot by Mr. Giblin at Motueka, in 

 the Province of Nelson, and now forms part of the public collection in the Nelson Museum. Mr. 

 Huddleston informs me that he saw the bird in the flesh, and knows the precise locality in which 

 it was shot. There can be no doubt, therefore, as to the authenticity of the specimen, although 

 this is the only recorded instance of its occurrence in New Zealand. As the bird appears to be 

 quite unknown to the natives of the country, we may safely assume that this was merely an 

 accidental visitant from Australia, where this species is very plentiful. 



