370 



S YS TEMA Tl C S YXOPSIS. — PA SSER ES — OSCINES. 



LA'XIUS. (Lat. laniits, a butcher. Fig. 232.) Gray Shrikes. Wing of 10 primaries, and 

 tail of 12 rectrices, both rounded in shape, and of nearly equal lengths. Point of wing formed 

 by 3d, 4th, and 5th quills ; 2d not longer than 6th, 1st about half as long as 3d. Tarsus equal- 

 ling or slightly exceeding in length the middle toe and claw, strongly scutellate in front, with 

 outer lateral plate usually more or less subdivided, as is unusual anuing Oscines. Lateral toes 

 of about equal lengths, their claws reaching base of middle claw ; inner toe cleft nearly to base, 

 outer more extensively coherent with basal joint of middle toe. Feet large and strong, but 

 without specially ■' raptorial " development either of the digits or of their claws. Bill large 

 and powerful, compressed, deep, completely notched and toothed, and strongly hooked, pre- 

 senting the full accomplishment of a raptorial character. Kictus ample and deeply cleft, 

 strongly bristled ; gouys short, only about half the length of lower mandible. Nostrils circular 

 or nearly so, placed well forward in the nasal fossfe, more or less perfectly overhung and con- 

 cealed by tufts of antrorse bristly feathers. Body stout; neck short; head relatively large. 

 Coloration simple, the black, white, and bluish or grayish tints being UBrelieved by red or 

 other bright color. In amount of dusky vermiculation of under parts the species are graded 

 from borealis (most) to exciiUtoricles (least or none), and each one is graded from young to old. 

 In all, the general resemblance to a Mocking-bird is striking. 



Analysis of Species and Subspecies. 



Large : length 9.00 or over. Black head-stripe broken on under eyelid and across forehead. Always waved below 



with dusky borealis 



Small : length under 9.00. Black head-stripe unbroken across forehead : no white on under eyelid. Adults unwaved 

 below. 



Lighter : much white on rump and scapulars ; long white patch on primaries I. exciibifoiides 



Darker : Uttle white on rump and scapulars ; short white patch on primaries /tidoviciayius 



Darkest : Pacific coast form I. gambeli 



Li. borealis. (Lat. borealis, northern. Figs. 233, 234.) Great Northern Shrike. 

 Butcher-bird. Nine-killer. Shamble-sticker. Adult ^ 9 '■ Above, clear bluish- 

 ash, blanching on rump and 

 A , \ scapulars ; below, wliite, 



)j»~- always vermiculated trans- 



'X/ V ^**'*^.*^/ 1 ^"^ \/| versely with fine wavy 



A ^X. ^"x^ ^^****A ^ blackish lines ; a bmad 



'-^^ / ^^ V^ \^^^^^ black bar along side of 



If ^^^^^J^^^^ -,-'^^^^S^^^^ head, woi meeting its fellow 



_^^..i^ '^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^\^- across forehead, interrupted 



by a white crescent on under 



eyelid, and bordered above 



by hoary white that also 



k/ '^ occupies extreme forehead ; 



-ijp5^ -^—^^ "MT^rr ^S ^V^^'* wings and tail black, former 



f i ^^BbH^^/ /^ ^^C '^^ with a large white spot near 



'*' ^ "Jw^mA 1 ^ ^ - "" S^ base of primaries and white 



* J ^^0\\\ ' latter with outer web of 



' TJ ( outer feather edged, and all 



^ the feathers excepting the 



Fig. 'j;?:'.. — Northern Shrike. middle pair broadly ti[»ped, 



witli white, and with con- 

 cealed white bases; bill and feet blui.sh-black : eyes blacki.sh. Length 9.00-10.00; extent 

 13.50-14. .^0; wing 5.00-.3.50; tail rather more; bill 0.75; tarsus 0.00; middle toe and claw 



