Famili/ of Laniadce. 299 



extends to the form of the nares, and the lengthened and robust 

 tarsi. When these perplexing difficulties occur, and we are ia 

 doubt as to the situation of a bird, uniting in itself characters of two 

 distinct tribes, our decision must always be regulated by its natural 

 economy. Yet in the present instance, this is somewhat difficult; 

 for the statements before us are meagre and contradictory ; M« 

 Vieillot, when describing another species of this type, (Laniarius 

 viridis,) observes, probably on the authority of Perrien, (whose 

 book I have no means of consulting,) Elle se tient dans les bois les 

 plus fourresj a la citne des grands arbres^ ou le male fait entendre 

 un siffletfort, qui a quelque rapport avec celui de la caille d^ Europe. 

 On Vapproche difficilement, si on n'imite sa voix ; car il est d'un 

 naturel sauvage et tres dejiant. Les baies sont sa nourriture 

 principale. — Galerie des Oiseaux, Liv. 43. pi. 143. On this pas- 

 sage I must make two remarks ; relying on the accuracy of M. 

 Vieillot, in associating this bird with the Barbary shrike, which 

 indeed, (judging from the figure) it very much resembles, 1st, The 

 wings of the tS.hican 3Ialaconotus, like those oi Laniarius barbaruSf 

 are rounded, and very weak ; and we shall quote the opinion of 

 M. Le Vaillant, to show the importance of this structure, Avhen 

 connected with their economy. " Ces caracteres de la coupe de 

 Pailc influant beaucoup sur la manierc de voter des oiseaux, ceux- 

 ci ne se rencontrent que tres-rarernent sur le sommet des arbres, 

 ou nous avons fait remarquer que les pie-grieches de la j)remiere 

 section, (G. Lanius, nob.) se perchoient toujour s de preference ; il 

 est mhne des espcces dans cette seconde division, (G. Malacoiiotus 

 nob.) que la nature exclut enfiirement de dessus les arbrcs elevesy 

 dies chcrchent leur nourriture parmi les buissons bas et toujjfus, 

 dans le centre dcsqucls elles se cachent soigneusement, ct vivent 

 principalement de chenilles de vers et de toutes sortes d^insectes. 

 La foiblcsse de leurs ailcs leur interdit toute espcce d'inscctes." 



I have given this passage at length, because it acquaints us 

 with the true economy of tlic Malaconoti, and at the same time 

 proves tlie incapacity of Laniarius to frequent the tops of lofty trees. 

 On the second part of M. Vieillot's statement, it may be observed, 

 that if the principal food of Laniarius viridis be berries, it can- 

 not belong to a tribe so truly insectivorous as the Laniada:, but 



