THE



Avicultural Magazine


THE JOURNAL OF THE

AVICULTURAL SOCIETY



Fifth Series. —Vol. I.—No. 1 .—All rights reserved. JANUARY, 1936.



THE GABOON FIERY-BREASTED BUSH-

SHRIKE


(Malaconotus cruentus gabonensis)


By C. S. Webb


This beautiful Bush-shrike is found in the Cameroons and Gaboon,

and the specimen shown in the accompanying plate was caught in the

former of these territories.


Like the other members of its genus, this Shrike is a formidable

looking creature having a longer and stronger bill than other Shrikes,

and the upper mandible terminating in a pronounced hook. In con¬

sequence, great care must be taken in handling them especially when

freshly caught, as their bites are exceedingly painful and usually draw

blood.


Although distributed over a fairly wide area they seem to be every¬

where scarce and on account of their secretive habits it is very seldom

that they are seen. The Malaconotus Bush-shrikes are found singly

or in pairs and they seem to recognize one another’s territorial rights

as I have never come across more than one pair in any fairly large

area.


Not many of the West African natives of my acquaintance were

familiar with these birds, which is no doubt due as much to their powers



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