484 EXCURSORES. SNATCHERS. 



dacity, for they will not hesitate to attack a hawk or other bird 

 greatly superior to them in strength, and usually succeed in 

 driving it off. 



In Europe there are proportionally few of these birds ; and 

 in Britain, not more than five species have been found, of which 

 only one is common. If we confine ourselves to the consider- 

 ation of the characters and affinities of our indigenous birds 

 therefore, we can form no correct idea of the connexions of 

 the order, or of the groups into which it may be divided. Of 

 these groups it is unnecessary here to indicate more than the 

 names and principal characters, with some of the genera of 

 which they are composed. 



The Laniincc, Shrikes or Butcher Birds, of which may be 

 mentioned the genera Lanius, Falcunculus, Malaconotus, and 

 Thamnophilus, have the bill of moderate length or short, broad 

 at the base only, compressed in the rest of its extent, with a 

 decurved tip, and a prominent toothlike process ; the wings of 

 moderate length, and concave ; the feet of ordinary length, 

 rather stout, the claws large and curved. Three species are 

 found in Britain, but none are resident. 



The MyiotlierinWi or Flychasers, exemplified by the genera 

 Myiothera (Tyrannus, Vieill.), Dicrurus, Muscicapa, Musci- 

 peta, and Todus, have the bill of moderate length, or rather 

 long, broad, depressed, with a suddenly compressed, very small, 

 deflected tip, and a distinct notch ; the mouth wide ; the tarsus 

 very short, with very large scutella, the toes very small, and 

 the wings rather long and straight. They are the typical birds of 

 this order, or those which present its characters in the greatest 

 perfection. Two species occur in Britain, both summer birds. 



The Ampelina^ or Chatterers, including the genera Ampelis, 

 Casmarhynchus, Rupicola, Calyptomina, Procnias, Bomby- 

 cilla, Pipra, Pardalotus, Vireo, and some others, have the bill 

 generally short, broad at the base, compressed at the tip, which 

 is small and deflected, with a distinct notch, the mouth wide 

 (but rarely if ever opening beyond the eyes, as has been erro- 

 neously stated), the feet very small, and the wings generally 

 long. They are in some respects allied to the Hirundinae or 

 Swallows, as well as to the Myiotherinre. Only a single 



