OBSERVATIONS ON THE 
same result ; the one is by an examination of structure, the other 
by the knowledge and comparison of the habits of the individuals. 
To procure authentic information of the latter is generally the 
most difficult ; but in the present instance, besides the notices of 
some of the earlier known species, we are, thanks to the enter- 
prise of Mr. Gould, in possession of a considerable store of mate- 
rials which can be relied upon, and we shall shortly run over these, 
comparing them afterwards with what we know of the Hirundinidce • 
They will be found to coincide remarkably. 
Sonnerat, in the “ Voyage a la JYouvelle Guinee,” relates of the 
true Lanius ( Artamus ) leucorynchus there described. 
“ Cet oiseau vole ayec rapidite, et en se balangant en fair, comme 
les hirondelles. II est ennemi du corbeau ; et quoique heancoup 
plus petit, il ose nonseulment se mesurer avec lui, mais meme il le 
provoque. Le combat est long, opiniatre, dure quelquefois une 
demi-keure, et fhiit par la retraite du corbeau ; peut-etre meprise 
t-il cet ennemi trop foible, qui ne fait que le harcelcr, et n’echappe 
& ses coups que par la facility qu’il a ft les esquiver, h s’eloiner et 
a revenir en prenant son avantage.” — Sonnerat Voy. a la Nouv- 
Guin. iii. p. 56. 
The account given of the habits of these birds by Mr. Gould will 
be read with much interest, and on comparing it with the general 
manners of our most common swallows, a remarkable similarity will 
be noticed. Writing of the “ wood sw'allow,” A. sordidus, he says, 
This, “ besides being the commonest species of the genus, must, I 
think, be rendered a general favourite with the Australians, not 
only from its singular and pleasing actions, but by its often taking 
UP lts abode and incubating near the houses, particularly such as are 
surrounded by paddocks and open pasture-lands skirted, by large 
trees. It was in such situations as these in Van Dieman’s Land, 
at the commencement of spring, that I first had an opportunity of 
o ser\in 0 this species ; it was then very numerous on all the cleared 
estates on the north side of the Derwent, about eight or ten being 
en on a single tree, and half as many crowding one against 
another on the same dead branch, but never in such numbers as 
o eserve the appellation of flocks. Each bird appeared to act 
independently of the other; each. as the desire of food prompted 
J. 8 .,° lt 1 11 ” m t ' le branch to capture a passing insect, or to 
51 ie ti ee and return again to the same spot ; on alighting 
