Among the few Ornithological subjects which that accomplished traveller, Mr. Burchell, has yet published from his vast collections of African Zoology, is the charming bird here figured. It was discovered near Litakoon, the principal town of the Bachapins, a nation never before known to Europeans. Its principal range is between lat. 27. 20. and 29. 10. S. on the meridian of 24. E. "To a traveller," continues our friend, "wandering through the airy groves of the _Transgaripine_, the sight of these _Lanii_, flying from branch to branch above his head, and displaying their fine colour in all its brilliancy, suddenly arrests his steps, and claims his admiration. Viewed in such a position, little of their black colour is seen, and they then appear to be entirely scarlet." A most beautiful analogy may be traced between the two principal groups of the Bush Shrikes, and those of the Ant-thrushes. The genus _Malaconotus_ corresponds to the _Pittæ_, in being restricted to the old world, in the vivid colours of their plumage, and the connexion, in the typical species, of the two outer toes. In _Thamnophilus_ and _Myothera_, both American groups, the colours are uniformly dark; and their resemblance in structure is so close, that no author has yet pointed out their distinctions. * * * * * * [Illustration: HARPULA VEXILLUM. _Orange Flag Volute._] HARPULA vexillum. _Orange-flag Volute._ ---- Family Volutidæ. Sub-family Volutinæ. _Nob._ GENERIC CHARACTERS. Shell generally tuberculated or longitudinally ribbed: apex of the spire papillary, smooth, and in general distorted: Pillar with numerous distinct plaits; the upper small and slender, the lower thickest and shortest. Type. _Voluta Hebræa._ Lam. TYPES OF FORM. I. Vol. Hebræa, musica, pusio, polyzonalis, &c. II. Vol. bullata? III. Vol. multicostata, mitræformis, costata, lyriformis, nucleus, &c. IV. Vol. rupestris, dubia? V. Vol. lapponica, vexillum. _Auct._ ---- SPECIFIC CHARACTER. _Shell either smooth, or slightly and acutely tuberculated; white with numerous bands of orange; pillar thickened in the middle, and marked with from six to eight plates._ Voluta vexillum. _Auct. Lam. Syst. 7. 346. Ency. Meth. pl. 381 f. 1. a. b. optimè._ ----