BUTCHER-BIRDS. 257 



BUTCHER-BIRDS, (Lanius. Lin.) 



The BILL of moderate size, robust, straight from its origin, and 

 much compressed, with advancing bristles at the base ; the upper 

 mandible rounded above, hooked, and acute at the tip, near to which, 

 on either side, there is a small sharp tooth ; the lower notched, and 

 also toothed near the tip. Nostrils basal, lateral, almost round, partly 

 hidden in the hairs at the base of the bill, and half closed by a vault- 

 ed membrane. Feet, with the tarsus longer than the middle toe ; 

 the toes entirely divided. Wings moderate, the spurious feather very 

 short, and the 3d and 4th primaries longest. — The female and 

 young of the American species scarcely differ from the adult male. 

 Some others have a partial moult a second time in the year. 



The larger species possess the courage and cruelty of birds of ra- 

 pine. Their prey, which they seize and convey in the bill, consists, 

 however, principally of large insects ; they often also attack small 

 birds, for which they commonly lie in wait on the high branches of 

 trees ; they hold their victim usually in one foot, and tear it to pieces 

 with the bill. They fly precipitately and irregularly to short dis- 

 tances and frequently move the tail. They defend their nests from 

 the largest birds of prey with dauntless temerity ; live in families ; 

 build in trees and bushes, and lay from 5 to 7 eggs. Their voice is 

 loud and somewhat musical, and they have a propensity for imitat- 

 ing the calls and notes of other birds. — They are found in all parts 

 of the world ; but in South America they are principally represented 

 by other allied forms. In habit they approach the birds of prey, have 

 some relation at the same time to Magpies, and pass almost into the 

 Flycatchers, Thrushes, and other small insectivorous birds. 



22* 



