Family — C RACTICIDdE. 
This family comprises the Australian forms of Cracticus (s ensu lato) Gymnorhina 
and Strepera ( sensu lato). Associated together by Gould they were divorced 
by Sharpe and from a study of their myology reunited by Leach. I had 
independently concluded from a study of the superficial characters that such 
a conclusion seemed valid, but as there is so much controversy about such 
matters Leach’s research has proved very valuable as it will cany more weight 
than my own more complicated investigations. I may, however, here remark 
upon the suggested development of the forms. 
All have superficially a peculiarity of bill formation, namely the ossifi- 
cation of the membranous operculum, seen in allied birds, into a linear slit. 
This feature alone separates Strepera from the Corvidae and allies it to Gymno- 
rhina and Cracticus. However, I have examined nestling Cracticus and they 
show the normal nasal groove with the oval nostril anteriorly placed and the 
horny operculum present with nasal bristles projecting and half obscuring 
the nostrils ; the bill has the culmen almost straight, semi-keeled and the tip 
only slightly hooked ; the tarsus shows anterior scutation. In the adult 
Cracticus the horny operculum has become ossified, the nostrils have become 
reduced to linear slits, the nasal bristles have become obsolete, the nostrils 
'quite clear of the base of the bill, the culmen flattened and the tip very strongly 
hooked ; the tarsus faintly scutellate or booted. In Gymnorhina the birds 
have become bigger and the extraordinary development of the bill has not 
taken place, only a slight curved tip being present. In Strepera the same bill 
as in Gymnorhina is seen with the culmen more arched and the semi-keeling 
more noticeable. In N eostrepera the bill has the semi-keeling more pronounced 
and no curved tip has been developed, only a dagger point evolution being 
seen instead, though otherwise the structure is similar. 
The immature of N eostrepera shows a slight hooked tip, showing that the 
genus has lost the hook through different habits. Moreover, in Cracticus 
the base of the bill is comparatively normal, but in Gymnon'hina the base is a 
little differentiated from the frontal feathering and the feathering approaches 
the nasal impression ; this feature is emphasized in Strepera, so that almost 
a frontal shield is developed, and this is flattened and well separated from the 
frontal feathers, though anteriorly the culmen is almost keeled ; in N eostrepera 
these feathers are more marked still. 
In colouring similar stages can be noted : Cracticus has evolved a black 
and white coloration, and in one direction a wholly black Cracticoid form, 
Melloria, has been produced ; the Bulestes group of the Cracticoid series have 
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