OBSERVATIONS 
ON THE 
POSITION OF OCYPTERUS SANGUINOLENTUS, Temmincx. 
By the attention of Mr. Wilson, whose collection has already sup- 
plied us with many materials, we have been enabled to examine the 
yet rare bird, Ocypterus sanguinolentus of Temminck, the type of 
Mr. Swainson’s genus Analcipus, by whom it was placed among 
the Laniade, and in the division containing the Drongo Shrikes or 
Dicrurine. The first glance assured ns, that it had no connection 
with Ocypterus (Ariamus), none with Dierurus or the Shrikes, 
and that its proper position was, as arranged by Mr. Gray, with 
the Orioline, and with our genus Psaropholus. The structure of 
the wings is the same as with the Orioles; but that of the bill in 
this bird and P. érailii differs in the nostrils being at once pierced 
into the bill, wanting the covering membrane, or at least in its 
being so strong as to appear a part of the bill itself, and resembling 
the cleft nostril of the greater part of the Icterine group. The 
colouring is also remarkable, black, with an indication of brilliant 
colour on the centre of the belly, and a very small trace on the 
wing, the feathers on the bright spot of the former possessing the 
same silky texture with those of Psaropholus. We give the wood- 
cut from the “ Illustrations of Ornithology” illustrating that genus; 
and it will be extremely difficult to draw separate generic charac- 
ters for these two birds. When we first saw Psaropholus we con- 
sidered it generically distinct from the typical Orioles, the ruling 
colours of which are yellow, greenish, or olive and black, never 
crimson. The two birds in question exhibit rich purplish-brown 
and crimson, contrasted with black; and from the structure of 
the bill and entire appearance, we consider that they mark very 
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