536 



THE GENUS LANIUS 



SuBFAMiY LANIIN^: Typical Shrikes 



This group is perfectly illustrated by its typical genus 

 Lanius, the only one with which we have here to do. 



Genus LANIUS (Linnaeus) 



Falco sp., Linn. Syst. Nat. 1735. 



Ampelis sp., Linn. Syst. Nat. 1748. 



CoUjTio, Moehring, Gen. Av. 1752, 28 (not available).- Gray, G. of B.— .^d. BNA. 1858, 323. 



Lanius p., Litm. Syst. Nat. 1758. 



Lanius p., Briss. Orn. ii. 1760, 140. 



Lanius p., Linn. Syst. Nat. 1766. 



Lanius of most Authors. 



CoUuPiO, Vigors, PZS. 1831, 42.— Bd. Rev. AB. 1866, 437. (Not of Kaup, 1829.) 



Chars. — Wing of ten primaries, and tail of twelve rectrices, 

 both rounded in shape, and of nearly equal lengths. Point of 

 the wing formed by the 3d, 4th, and 5th quills, the 2d not 

 longer than the 6th, and the 1st about half as long as the 3d. 

 Tarsus equalling or slightly exceeding in length the middle toe 

 and claw, strongly scutellate in front, and with the outer 

 lateral plate usually more or less subdivided, as is unusual 

 among Oscines. Lateral toes of about equal lengths, their claws 

 reaching to the base of the middle claw ; inner toe cleft nearly 



^ to the base, the outer more 

 extensively coherent with the 

 basal joint of the middle toe. 

 Feet large and strong, but 

 without specially " raptorial " 

 development either of the 

 digits or of their claws. Bill 

 large and powerful, com- 

 pressed, deep, completely 

 notched and toothed, and 

 strongly hooked, presenting the full accomplishment of a 

 raptorial character. Eictus ample and deeply cleft, and 

 strongly bristled ; gonys short, only about half the length 

 of the lower mandible. Nostrils circular or nearly so, placed 

 well forward in the nasal fossa, more or less perfectly over- 

 hung and concealed by tufts of antrorse bristly feathers. 



Body stout; neck short; head relatively large. Coloration 

 simple, the black, white, and bluish or grayish tints being 

 unrelieved by red or other bright color. 



Fig. 65.— Bills of Shrikes. 



