PASSERINE. 



179 



There are four or five species of this subdivision in Europe, as 



The Sentinel Shrike (L. exeubitor, Lin.)— As large as a Thrush, and uh-cotoured above, white underneath : the 

 wings, tail, i.n<l a band crossing the eyes, black ; some white on the scapulars and tail. It resides all the \<-ar in 

 France, [and is chiefly know n as an uncommon w inter v i-itant in Britain], 



The Ked-backed Shrike (L. rot/iirio, (Jin.)— Smaller, with the head and rump ash-coloured, the back and wings 

 reddish-brown, a black streak through the eyes, lower parts whitish, tinged with pinkish lilach, wings and tail dull 

 black, the side feathers of the latter while at the base externally. [Female, I now u abOA e, w it limit transverse stria-, and 

 sometimes attaining the masculine livery with age.] It destroys other Birds, young RrOgS, andava.-t numlier of 



insects, which it impales on the thorns of bushes, to devour at Insure, a habit c n to the whole genus, wii 



they have derived the name of Butcher-bird*. We may here remark that the Shrikes have '.Teat power of clutching 

 with their toes, and always hold their prey in one foot, resting on the tarsal joint of thai foot, unless when they 

 have fastened it upon a thorn, whin they pull it to pieces in a contrary direction. The preaent species feeds much 

 On small mammalia, as Shrews and the smaller Voles, captures insects on the wing in the manner of a Flycatcher, 

 and is a common summer \ isitant in the southern counties of England]. 



The Wood Shrike (L. rufus, Gin.) — Wings and tail nearly as in the preceding, the hand across the eyes meeting 

 over the forehead, the head and neck bright rufous, back black, the scapulars, rump, and lower parts, white. 

 [Sexes almost similar. A summer visitant, of very rare occurrence in Britain. There are two others in F.urope, 

 allied to the first, L. minor, Gin., and /,. meriiHonali*, Tern.; and many more in Asia, Africa, and America, some 

 of the former ha\ big shorter w iiurs, and a longer and more cuneated tail.] 



There are numerous exotic species with arcuated beaks, the points of which diminish by degrees, till it becomes 

 impossible to define the limits between them and the Thrushes. 



The genus Lanio of Yicillot is founded on one of them, the ed^es of the upper mandible of which are slightly 

 angular. It is the Tantjara mordorc of Itullon, (Tun. ctricapilla, Gin.) 



Various species with feeble bills constitute the Laniartut ofVieiDot, (Gal. Ois. M3.) 



The Vireohs ( Vino) of the same naturalist chiefly differ in the shortness and slenderness of the bill. [They con- 

 stitute a very distinct genus, consisting of the warbling Flycatcher* of North America, as Mutdcapa oUvacea, 

 YN lis., and many proximate species, which are allied to the I'ettychaps group (the restricted .Sylriu, or 1'hillo- 

 pneu*l<) Of Europe: they are to a considerable extent baccivorous.] 



Other Shrikes have the superior mandible straight, and abruptly hooked at the tip. They are all 



foreign, and grade towards the Fauvettes and other Blender-billed Dentiroetres. 



[They constitute' the ThatnnophUu* of Yicillot. as now generally accepted, wherein the plumage is soft and puffy, 

 and conspicuously barred across at all ages, these markings being in some instances broken into spots, as in the 

 nestling dress of the Thrushes, to which and the true Shrikes they are intermediate, passing to the Thrushes 

 through lanthocincla. They are also related to the Antcatchers, and are indigenous to South America]. 



Some of them have a straight and very strong beak, the lower mandible of which is much inflated ; 

 As L. lineattu, Leach, (Zoul. Misc. pi. vi.), ThanmopMltt* ffuttatut, Spix. 

 Others, again, with a straight and slender bill, are remarkable for their crests of vertical feathers ; 



As L. plumatu*, Shaw ; Of w oich Yicillot makes his genus Prionops, and is Manieup Of Buffon i Pipra all.ifront, 

 Gm.), which has nothing in common with the true Pipra, beyond a more than usually prolonged junction of the 

 two outer toes. M. Yicillot makes of it his genus Pithy*. (Gal. 129.) 



Among these Shrikes, more particularly so called, some other exotic subgenera, that differ more or 



less, require to be specified. Sucli arc 



Tin: VanoaS {Vanga), Buffon, — 



Distinguished by a large beak, very much compressed throughout, its tip strongly hooked, and that of 



the lower mandible bent downward. 



The Vanga (L. CUTVirottri*, Gin.), and also some newly-discovered species, as V. dettnutur, Guv., SIC 



Tin: L vmiaukys (Ocyptenu, Cm.; Artamut, Yicillot) — 



Have the beak conical and rounded, without any ridge, somewha' arched towards the tip, with a \< ry 

 line point, slightly einargiiiateil on each side. Their feet are very short, and the wing- in particular 



reach beyond the tail, which renders their flight similar to that of ■ Swallow; hut they have the 



courage of the Shrike-, and do not tear to attack even the t row. 



Numerous species inhabit the coasts and islands of the Indian Ocean, where thej are continuanj sen on the 

 wing, flying swiftly in pursuit .* [The] are unquestionabl] allied to the following.] 



'I'm. 1'. x in i \n- (Barita, Cuv. ; Cractietu, Vieillot) — 



Have a large and straight conical beak, round at it- base, — where it extend- cncul.nl> backward apt a 



• Co nm l l • monograph of lb.1, gruui, by M. V«icnclci,i>ci, publiihol ID Mrm. du Slui , torn, ti, p. St, 



