8 ON THE CLASSIFICATION OF BIRDS. 
three species, natives of Madagascar and the Indian iss 
lands, have yet been discovered; they lead us to the ~ 
swift shrikes (Ocypterus Cuv.), so named from their very 
; long wings: but in Tephrodor- 
». again become like those of the 
~ Drongos. This latter genus is 
= very remarkable ; for, by the 
bristly nature and the incurved 
direction of the frontal feathers, 
we have a clear representation 
of Chetoblemma, and all those 
bristle-fronted birds which are analogical to Prionops 
and Dasycephaila. 
(9.) A few scientific remarks on the three last groups, 
forming the aberrant sub-families of the LaniapzZ, 
appear necessary. The approximation of the Dicrurine 
to the Tyrannine has been thought so strong, and so 
decisive, that one ornithologist supposes they actually 
pass into each other... How this union, however, is ab- 
solutely effected, we are not prepared to state; yet it is 
not only highly probable, but what we should naturally 
expect ; in which case the three aberrant groups would 
form their own circle. We might look for this union 
by means of the African Drongos (Edolius Cuv. ) and the 
fork-tailed tyrants (Milvulus Sw.), since we have else- 
where pointed out (Vorthern Zool. vol.ii. p.134.) the re- 
markable similarity of their manners and economy: yet, 
if we regard external structure, it seems to us that the 
genera Tephrodornis and Saurophagus make even a still 
nearer approach. As yet very few species are known of 
these latter ; and, therefore, any decisive opinion would 
be premature. Certain it is, that Sawrophagus evinces a 
much greater tendency to unite with Tephrodornis, than 
to pass, by a simple progression, into the true Laniade 
by means of Falcunculus ; while, on the other hand, 
, ~ nis (fg. 116.) these members 
Tephrodornis is nearly as much allied to Saurophagus — 
as to Prionops,— that genus, in fact, which is the first 
on entering the Thamnophiline. 
