150 B UTCHER-BIRDS. 



for the birds that produce it are always hidden in the dense thicket, where 

 even the rays of the sun penetrate with difficulty ; and, as it is in similar 

 situations that they build their nests and rear their young, they are pretty 

 secure from observation. 



The birds belonging to another group of bush shrikes {Laniarius) are 

 found on the continent of Africa, where they frequent the branches of lofty 

 trees in the vicinity of rivers. Their chief food consists of grubs and insects, 

 but it is said that the larger species will attack and destroy young or sickly 

 birds ; nevertheless, as we are informed, there are some that feed on fruits 

 and berries. Their nests are generally hidden in bushes or in the trees that 

 border the rivers, and are composed of mosses and the stems of plants. 



The typical form is — 



The Many-coloured Bush. Shrike {Laniarius multicolor). 



Tribe IV. 



CONIROSTRES. 



This numerous division comprehends many well-known famihes, 

 distinguished by their short, thick, conical bill, which is stronger 

 and stouter in proportion as they feed more exclusively on seeds.* 

 They are most numerous in temperate and cold climates, of which 

 they are generally permanent inhabitants. 



The bill of the Conirostral birds varies a good deal in lengtlr 

 and thickness, and is sometimes more or less curved. The tip of 

 the upper mandible is generally straight, and its margin unarmed ; 

 nevertheless, in some of the forms most nearly allied to the pre- 

 ceding section, the edges of the upper mandible are notched near 

 the extremity, and the tip jtself is slightly hooked. The food of 

 the majority of the species belonging to this group, especially 

 those with straight and stout conical bills, consists principally of 

 seeds, for breaking which this form of beak is peculiarly adapted. 

 There are, however, few if any of them which do not live partially 

 upon animal food, such as insects and their larva;, whilst some 

 appear to devour almost anything fitted to afford them nourish- 

 ment. 



* See "Animal Creation,'' page 324. 



