BUTCHER-BIRDS. 147 



Sub-Family I. 

 THE BUTCHER-BIRDS PROPER. LANHN^. 



General Characteristics. — Bill moderate and strong, with the culmen curved, and 

 the sides generally much compressed near the tip, which is mostly hooked and 

 emarginated ; the gape sometimes furnished with short bristles ; the nostrils lateral 

 and rounded ; the wings more or less long, and generally rounded ; the tail of 

 various lengths, and usually rounded ; the tarsi rather short and strong ; the toes 

 rather long and strong, with the lateral ones generally unequal, the outer toe the 

 longest, and united at its base, the hind toe long and broadly padded. 



The Butcher-Birds are found throughout Europe, Asia, Africa, 

 and America. They are usually seen singly or in pairs, in woody 

 or in bushy places. Their food consists of various kinds of insects, 

 which they usually seize on the ground or from among the foliage, 

 and even occasionally pursue while on the wing ; they also attack 

 lizards, small birds, and quadrupeds, which they destroy by stran- 

 gulation: When life is extinct, they fix their prey on a thorn while 

 feeding on it. Their courage is very great, and prompts them to 

 attack birds of far superior size, should they approach their haunts. 

 Their flight is undulating, usually performed by jerks ; and while 

 perched on a branch their tail is in constant motion. Their nest 

 is placed in trees or bushes, and is composed of moss, wool, and 

 dry grass, lined internally with hair. The eggs are five or seven 

 in number. 



A remarkable group of these birds {Falcnnciibis) is peculiar to 

 the continent of Australia, where they are found both in the thick 

 bushes and on the trees on the open plains. Their food chiefly 

 consists of insects, which are either obtained among the foliage 

 or under the bark of the large branches and trunks of the trees. 

 In procuring these they show great dexterity, stripping off the 

 bark in the most determined manner, for which purpose their 

 powerful bill is admirably adapted. They are very animated and 

 sprightly, and in many of their habits bear a striking resemblance 

 to the tits — particularly in the manner in which they cling to and 

 climb about the branches in search of food — frequently erecting 

 their crests, and assuming many pert and lively attitudes. 



The birds composing another Australian genus (Orcoicd) fre- 

 quent the open places of forests, and resort much to the ground, 

 over which they hop with great quickness, often in small com- 

 panies of three to six together. Their flight is a heavy undula- 

 ting sweep, generally so near the ground that they seem as if 



