486 



LANIINiE. 



SHRIKES AND ALLIED SPECIES. 



The Shrikes and allied genera differ from the Myiotherinae 

 chiefly in the form of the bill and feet, the former being stronger, 

 less expanded at the base, and more compressed towards the 

 end, with a stronger dentiform process, the latter much stouter 

 and more elongated. 



The bill is rather short, or of moderate length, strong, 

 as high as broad at the base, compressed ; the upper man- 

 dible with the dorsal outline straight or convex, the ridge 

 more or less rounded, the sides convex, the edges sharp, the 

 notch and dentiform process well marked, the tip slender, de- 

 clinate or abruptly decurved, and acute ; the lower mandible 

 with the angle rather short and broad, the dorsal outline con- 

 vex and ascending, the back broad at the base, the sides con- 

 vex, the edges more or less inclinate, the tip small, ascending, 

 with a sinus behind. Fig. 251. 



The nostrils are rather small, roundish or elliptical, in the 

 fore part of the rather large nasal membrane, which is covered 

 with bristly feathers at the base. The eyes are of moderate 

 size. The aperture of the ear roundish and large. 



The general form is compact, moderately full ; the body 

 ovate ; the neck rather short ; the head large, broadly ovate or 

 roundish, and flattened above. The feet are short, but of mo- 

 derate strength ; the tarsus short, but longer than the hind toe 

 and claw, its anterior scutella generally blended above ; the 

 toes moderate, compressed ; the hind toe much stouter, the 

 outer toe united at the base w^ith the third ; the claws rather 

 large, much arched, compressed, laterally grooved, and very 

 acute. 



The plumage is soft and blended ; the feathers ovate and 



