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WHITE-PLUMED SHRIKE. 
usually hooked, and the hinder toe, as in the Swal- 
low Shrikes or Dicrurince, very long. Indeed, as 
no fissirostral types arc crested, it may be even 
questioned whether this genus does not actually 
enter into the circle of the Swallow Shrikes; in 
which case, hy viewing it as the rasorial type of 
that division, we can not only account for its length 
of wing, but also for its remarkably plumed crests 
Waving, however, such a critical distinction, it is 
plain that Prionops connects the Thamnophilince 
and the Dicrurince. 
Deep black glossed with blue, and pure white, 
are nearly the only colours of the plumage. The 
head and neck, as fitr as the shoulders, are pure 
white, excepting a nuchal band of grey, which 
forms a half collar at the back of the neck and 
extends round the margin of the ears. There are 
two broad white bands on the wing ; one across the 
ends of the greater covers, and another running 
longitudinally on the exterior of three of the lesser 
quills. The greater quills have another white bar, 
placed in an oblique direction on their inner webs 
only, so as not to be seen when the wing is closed, 
and all the quills, more or less, are tipt with white. 
The tail is long, slightly rounded, and of the same 
kind of black glossed with green as the wings, but 
the outer-feather on each side is pure white, the 
next is half black half white, and the others tipt 
only with white. The back feathers are not much 
lengthened, and the white of the under plumage is 
quite pure. 
