HOOK-BILLED SHRIKE. 299 



and is strongly cuneated: bill and legs black. 

 This elegant bird is a native of the South-Sea 

 Islands. Described and figured by Levaillant, 

 who examined four specimens, two of which had 

 the secondary wing-feathers edged with white in- 

 stead of red. 



HOOK-BILLED SHRIKE. \ 



Lanius curvirostris. L. cauda cuneiformi, corpore dlho dorso 

 nigrOj remigibus primoribus quinque macula alba, Lin. Si/st, 

 Nat, 



Shrike with cuneated tail, white body with black back, and 



the five first quill-feathers marked by a white spot. 

 Vanga, ou Becarde a ventre blanc. Buff. ois. 

 Ecorcheur de Madagascar. PL Enl. 228. 

 Hook-billed Shrike. Lath, syn. 



Size of a Blackbird: length ten inches: colour 

 black and white, the back of the head being black, 

 as are also the back and wings: the coverts and 

 smaller quill-feathers are edged with white ^ the 

 tail black, the side-feathers edged aiid tipped with 

 white: all the remainder of the bird white ^ bill 

 and legs black, the former longer and more curved 

 at the tips than in the rest of the genus. Native 

 of Madagascar, where it is called Vanga, Said to 

 feed on fruits, and to have a pleasing note. 



Var. 



This differs in having the whole top of the head 

 black, except just at the base of the upper mandi- 

 ble. Observed in New Holland. 



