124 NORTHERN ZOOLOGY. 



THAMNOPHILIN^. 



We have already shown that in Nilaus, Sw., we have a form so nearly approaching 

 to this sub-family, that we may fairly conclude on their approximation. The birds 

 composing- this division are typically known by a strong, but considerably more 

 lengthened bill, bent only at the end, where the inflection is abrupt : the tooth, 

 also, is much less developed, although in some species it is still very prominent. 

 The feet are more robust ; but the claws, no longer fine or attenuated, are now 

 broad and thick : above all, the economy of these birds is totally different from 

 that of the true Shrikes. They are described, both by Azara and Le Vaillant, as 

 living and searching for their prey among thick foliage ; hence their familiar name 

 of Bush Shrikes. Their wings for this purpose are but little used ; and we 

 accordingly find these members particularly short and feeble ; while the tail is 

 somewhat lengthened, and more or less rounded. 



We consider the Geai longup of Le Vaillant* (G. Platylophus, Sw.,) as repre- 

 senting that form in the circle of Thamriophilince which conducts us to Malaconotus, 

 Sw., the first typical genus at which we arrive. The plumage of these richly-coloured 

 birds is generally vivid ; composed of yellow, green, or crimson, blended with black 

 or green ; while some few are clothed in the more simple colours of the American 

 type. Much difference is observed in the proportionate strength of their bills ; and, 

 in some, the anterior toes are as much united as in the corresponding group of the 

 Pittw, or Short-tailed Thrushes, which these birds obviously represent among the 

 Shrikes. This variation in the structure of the feet takes place, however, in species 

 so nearly related, that it affords no ground for generic distinction. To this group suc- 

 ceeds the American genus Thamnophilus , Vieil., known at once by the rictus being 

 invariably smooth ; the whole organization (excepting, perhaps, the bill) is also 

 much weaker. It is among these we find that close approximation to the Myothcrce, 

 or Ant Thrushes, to which we have elsewhere alluded, and which is certainly so 

 close, that we ourselves for a long time suspected it to be a circular relation of 

 affinity. Whether such may not eventually prove to be the case, time alone can 

 show ; but the following are our reasons for considering the groups as belonging 

 to different families — observing, however, that their relation may be cited as 



* We cannot discover to what genus our nomenclators have consigned this bird. It is the Garrulus gallericulatui 

 of the Ency. Me"th. ; but in the Paris Museum it is placed, with much more propriety, among the Malaconoti. There 

 can be little doubt of its being the scansorial type of its own sub-family. 



