

LANIIN2E. 



Prionops Vieill.* 



Bill moderate and straight, with the culmen and the sides much compressed near the tip, which is 

 hooked and emarginated ; the gonys long, and curved upwards ; the lateral margins straight ; the 

 nostrils lateral, with the opening rounded and partly concealed by the projecting feathers. Wings long, 

 and rather pointed ; with the third and fourth quills equal and longest. Tail long and rounded. Tarsi 

 as long as the middle toe, strong, and covered in front with transverse broad scales. Toes moderate ; 

 with the outer toe longer than the inner, and slightly united at the base ; the hind toe long, and 

 broadly padded beneath ; the claws long, compressed, and much curved. 



The species that compose this genus are found in most parts of Africa. They are generally seen among low bushes, 

 in flocks of six or eight individuals, and either actively engaged in traversing those bushes, or in exploring the ground 

 around them in search of insects, especially termites. They are shy and noisy ; and, when one of the flock is induced to 

 fly, all the others follow the example, and thus wing their way to a fresh locality. 



1. P. plumatus (Shaw), Swains. Levaill. Ois. d'Afr. t. 80, 81. — 

 Prionops Geoffroyii Vieill. Gal. des Ois. t. 142. 



2. P. talacoma A. Smith, 111. Zool. S. Afr. Birds, pi. 5. 



3. P. polioeepha lus (Stanl.) Salt's Trav. App. p. 50. — Prionops 

 cristatus Rilpp. Faun. t. 12. f. 2. 



Telophoru s Swains, t 



Bill more or less long, with the culmen curved, and the sides much compressed to the tip, which is 

 hooked and emarginated ; the gonys long, and curved upwards ; the gape furnished with a few 

 bristles ; the nostrils lateral, with the opening rounded and partly exposed. Wings rather short, and 

 rounded ; with the third, fourth, and fifth quills equal and longest. Tail long and rounded. Tarsi 

 longer than the middle toe, strong, and covered in front with transverse scales. Toes long ; with the 

 outer toe rather longer than the inner, and slightly united at its base ; the hind toe long and strong ; 

 the claws moderate, slightly curved, and acute. 



These birds inhabit Africa and India. They flit about with great celerity from twig to twig and from bush to bush in 

 search of their food, which consists of various kinds of insects. The nest is, formed in the bushes, and the female 

 deposits five eggs. 



1. T '. erythropterus (Shaw), Swains. Levaill. Ois. d'Afr. t. 70., 

 PI. enl. 479. f. 1. — Lanius coronatus Vieill. 



2. T. longirostris Swains. Two Cent, and a Quart, p. 282. 



3. T. cucullatus (Temm.) PI. enl. 297. f. 1. — Lanius senegalus 

 var. Lath. 



4. T. senegalus (Linn.) Briss. Orn. ii. t. 17. f. 1. 



5. T. trivirgatus A. Smith, 111. Zool. S. Afr. Birds, pi. 



6. T. zeyhnus (Linn.) PI. enl. 272., Edwards's Birds, pi. 

 321., Levaill. Ois. d'Afr. t. 6'7. — Laniarius Bacbakiri Vieill.; 

 Lanius ornatus Licht. ; Telophorus collaris Swains. 



7. T. leucogrammicus (Temm.) Swains. — Crocias guttatus 

 Temm. PI. col. 592. ; Lanius albonotatus Less. ; Type of Laniellus 

 Swains. (1831). 



* Vieillot established this genus in 181 6 (Analyse, fyc. p. 41.). 



f Mr. Swainson established this genus in 1831 (Fauna Bor. Amer. p. 481.). It embraces Laniellus of Mr. Swainson (1831), with 

 which Crocias is synonymous. 



