8 ON THE CLASSIFICATION OP BIRDS. 
three species, natives of Madagascar and the Indian is- 
lands, have yet been discovered j they lead us to the 
swift shrikes (OcypierusCuv.), so named from their very 
long wings: but in Tephrodor- 
nis 116.) these members 
again become like those of the 
Drongos. This latter genus is 
very remarkable; for, by the 
bristly nature and the incurved 
direction of the frontalfeathers, 
we have a clear representation 
of Chatoblemma, and all those 
bristle-fronted birds which are analogical to Prionops 
and jDasycephaJa. 
( 9 -) A few scientific remarks on the three last groups, 
forming the aberrant sub-families of the Laniad.*, 
appear necessary. The approximation of the Dicrurirue 
to the Tyrannince has been thought so strong, and so 
decisive, tliat one ornithologist supposes they actually 
pass into each other. How this union, however, is ab- 
solutely effected, we are not prepared to state ; yet it is 
not only highly probable, but what we should naturally 
expect ; in which case the three aberrant groups would 
form their own circle. We might look for this union 
by means of the African Drongos (JSdolius Cuv.) and the 
fork-tailed tyrants (^Milvulus Srv.), since we have else- 
where pointed out (^Northern Zuol. voLii. p. ISi.) the re- 
markable similarity of their manners and economy : yet, 
if we regard external structure, it seems to us that the 
genera Tephrodornis and Saurophagm make even a still 
nearer approach. As yet very few species are known of 
these latter ; and, therefore, any decisive opinion would 
be premature. Certain it is, that Saurophagus evinces a 
much greater tendency to unite with Tephrodornis, than 
to pass, by a simple progression, into the true Lanxada 
by means of Falcunculus ; while, on the other hand, 
Tephrodornis is nearly as much allied to Saurophagus 
as to Prionops, — that genus, in fact, which is the first 
on entering the Thammphilirue. 
