Family LANIID^E. 



Bill cither strong, with the culmcu curved, ending in a hook with 

 a notch, in which case the bill is black or dark brown, or, secondly, 

 culmen straight, with hardly any hook and notch, and then of a 

 bluish-white colour. Form of nostrils very variable. Wings with 

 ten primaries, the first at least halt the length of the second (except 

 in Lanhis minor) ; tip of wing formed by third, fourth, and fifth, 

 or fourth, fifth, and sixth primaries. Tail very variable in shape, 

 consisting of twelve feathers, not emarginated (except in Calicalicm). 

 Tarsus on both sides covered with one long scutum (except in 

 Nilaus), anteriorly generally scutellated. Toes four in number, 

 middle toe the largest ; nail of hind toe longer and stronger than 

 that of the others. Insectivorous birds; with a few exceptions 

 non-migratory, cosmopolitan ; monogamous ; nest containing a few 

 coloured eggs, and built in a tree. 



This family, the typical birds of which are described under the 

 heading Lannnce, includes some very aberrant forms, which, like 

 Gijmnorliina, EojjsaUrla, Artamia, Xenopirostns, Nilaus, Neolestes, 

 and Calkalicus, render it quite impossible to give a concise diagnosis 

 of what we have to understand by " Laniidce.^' The diagnosis of 

 the Lcmmlce, as well as that of Farida.', as given by Mr. Sharpc in 

 vol. iv. p. 7, is, for instance, applicable to the genera Lanius and 

 Parus only. 



In the present case we have to consider Lanius as the taxonomic 

 centre of the group, since all that is common to any two or more 

 of the five subfamilies of the Laniidce is typical of Lanius. In 

 other words, the genus Lanius (and through this the subfamily 

 Lamina), as defined on page 228, links the five subfamilies together ; 

 whilst, on the other hand, any attempt to trace the relationship be- 

 tween Lanius and other non-Laniine birds will show that some, or 

 at least one, of the genera belonging to the other four subfamilies are 

 the necessary intermediate forms. Thus, for instance, from Lanius we 

 have one fairly continuous series leading through Cracticus and Gym- 

 norhina to Strepera, Lijcocorax, and the Corvince ; again, through 

 Pachycephala and Eopsaltria to the Muscicapince ; through Cali- 

 calicus and Neolestes to the Pycnonotina'. 



The Laniida', as described in this volume, form neither a group 

 complete in itself, nor are the lines of distinction always drawn 

 closely enough. Thus Neolestes and Eopsaltria ought, perhaps, 

 to be left out ; Strepera ought to stand Avith Gymnorhina. Lastly, 

 how many of the Campepliagido' and of the so-called Timeliidce had 

 better be joined, as a sixth subfamily, with the Laniidce, I am at 

 present unable to tell. 



