OBSERVATIONS 
ON THE 
SYSTEMATIC POSITION OF THE GENUS ART AMU S, Vieillot. 
This very curious and interesting form, for it possesses modifica- 
tions of structure that has rendered its position in our systems 
questionable, was originally known by one species, the Lanius 
leucorynchus of Linnseus, an inhabitant of the Philippine Islands. 
Another was subsequently found in Continental India; while the 
discovery of New Holland, and the various expeditions to the in- 
terior of that continental island, have now augmented the genus 
to a considerable number, some of which exhibit a greater variety 
of form, and less uniformity in the colouring of the plumage, than 
those with which we were previously acquainted. 
By some of our latter systematists (Kaup.) the Artami have 
been considered as the fissirostral type among the Conirostres ; 
but by the greater number they have been arranged among the 
Laniadce, and lately with one of the flycatching families of that 
group, the Dicrurince or Drongo Shrikes. They are acknowledged 
to be at least a “ representative” of some portion of the Fissirostres. 
It is there we would wish at once to remove them ; and if we shall 
attempt now to change their arrangement, we trust we shall be able 
to bring forward some grounds for the foundation of that opinion. 
It has frequently been found, that names given provincially, or 
by natives and settlers, or by those who at the time looked only 
at some resemblance, and not to scientific affinities, are often cor- 
rect indications of the position and real situation of the species. 
The Artami have received the titles of “Wood Swallows” from 
the colonists of Australia — “ Swallow Shrikes ” from the con- 
tinental ornithologists. There are two ways of attaining to the 
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