628 The American Naturalist. [July, 
upon at all, of obvious necessity. It will be sufficient here, 
while pointing out that the differences lie chiefly in the form 
of the crests, bill and, in the case of Melanorectes (a third 
genus), nasal bristles, to mention a few species and add one 
or two details as marks of identification. Pseudorectes cristatus, 
now placed in this genus, is noticeable for its crested head. 
Its general color is dull red, shading and paling on certain 
parts of the body, wings and tail. In size and appear- 
ance Pseudorectes ferrugineus is like the other species. Male 
and female differ imperceptibly. Above darkish brown 
predominates shading off or brightening on the wings and 
tail. Beneath is a soft buff. The bill, legs and feet dusky. 
Pseudorectes leucorhynchus, or white-bellied wood shrike, is 
another species with the customary coat of snuff brown, tail 
brighter, head darker, under parts a warm buff as far as the 
throat, which becomes tawny. Bill yellow. Tail nearly one- 
half the total length, measuring more than five inches. A 
synonym is Colluricincla leucorhyncla, sometimes classified as 
Rectes. 
The third genus, Melanorectes, represented by the species 
nigrescens, is fairly well indicated by its name. The general 
color of the male is dark, black on the head, black or sooty 
on the under parts. Bill black, legs plumbeous. The female 
is ruddy and dusky brown, rejoicing in a brighter garb than 
her mate, although the tints are neutral rather than positive. 
The length is seven inches. 
The Rectes, or to be more exact, Rectes dichrous, is the only 
bird according to Mr. Goldie, that the natives will not eat. 
New Guinea contains several species and sub-species of the 
genus Chibia, the native name for the Drongo shrike, birds of 
from 10 to 13 inches in length, belonging to the family of the 
Dicruridæ. They are black in color with a purplish or green- 
ish sheen, rather long, square cut tails, wings somewhat 
longer, both reflecting lustre more or less faint, strong, curved 
beaks imbedded in bristling hairs, and, in some instances, 
long, delicate, flexible hair-feathers on the head. It seems 
hardly essential to separate this genus from Dicrurus. In fact, 
most travelers in New Guinea have employed the latter name 
