STURNINiE, •— LAMPROTORNIN^. 
99 
subfamily. The uncommon brilliancy of its plumage 
has induced all writers, except MM. Temminck and 
Vieillot, to associate Astrapia with die Paradise birds. 
(115.) The Lampbotobnin.®, or grakles, comprise 
many smaller groups, whose characters have not yet been 
investigated; while others, truly belonging, as we conceive, 
to this family, have been placed with the crows. The 
magnificent Astrapia just alluded to, but for its long 
boat-shaped tail, would certainly be ranked with this group, 
of which, after all, it may probably prove to be the rasorial 
genus. The chief peculiarities of the grakles consist in a 
strong thrush-like bill, generally notched, but never an- 
gulated at the base ; the feet are remarkably large and 
stout ; and to the general blackness of their plumage is 
added the most beautiful metallic lustres of green and 
blue. The whole group appears confined to the tropics 
of Asia and Africa, where they seem to represent the 
American boat-tails. To tiiis group we remove the 
Australian satin birds (Ptilonorhynchus Kuhl), and the 
maniots, since the Fastor musiaus at once shows the 
natural stations and afiinities of all these birds. 
(116.) To the Stuminai, or true starlings, the passage 
is easy and natural ; since in tire maniots we see many 
of the characters of the grakles united with those of the 
Pastor starlings. In the birds of this subfamily (/, 9 . 
154.), the bill is much more straight, and the under 
mandible is considerably thickened at the base, where the 
commissure forms an abrupt angle. The great strength of 
the legs indicates the walking propensities of these birds. 
It a 
