2 
PERCHING-BIRDS. 123 
Of the four subfamilies recognised the Gymnorhine include some of 
the large forms such as the Piping Crows (Gymnorhina and Cracticus) 
(2206-8), of Australia, and the remarkable red and black Pityriasis 
gymnocephala (2209), from Borneo, The true Shrikes or Butcher-Birds 
(Laniine) derive their name from their habit of impaling their prey 
upon the thorns which surround their nest, and mice, birds, frogs, and 
insects are to be found hanging in the “ larders” of these birds, The 
most familiar is the Red-backed Shrike (Lanius collurio) (2218), a 
summer visitor, breeding in England and the South of Scotland. The 
Great Grey (2214), the Lesser Grey (2215), and the Wcodchat (2219) 
Shrikes are occasional visitors to Britain, and there is evidence that the 
last species has bred on more than one occasion in the south. The 
Masked Shrike (LZ. nubicus) (2217) is said to have been procured in Kent 
once. 
Among the African subfamily Malaconotine we find some most 
brilliantly coloured forms, such as the species of Laniarius (2223-30). 
The Pachycephaline are a large group of smaller forms ranging from 
Australia and Polynesia to Borneo and the Philippines. One of the 
largest and most handsomely marked species is the Australian Faleun- 
culus frontalis (2243), a pair of which ave exhibited with their nest. 
Family XVIII. Paripm. Trrs or Trruice. 
The numerous small birds comprising this family are spread over all 
the northern parts of the Old and New World, and extend their range 
southwards throughout Africa, but are not met with in South America 
or in the Australian region. As a general rule the species are not 
migratory. They are characterised by their stout conical bill. As in 
the Crows the metatarsus is strongly scaled. The plumage is alike in 
both sexes, and there is only one moult, which takes place in autumn, 
Except during the breeding-season they congregate in flocks, and, in 
company with Golden-Crested Wrens, Tree-Creepcrs, Nuthatches and 
other small birds, traverse the woods in search of insect-food. The 
majority place their somewhat roughly made open nest in holes in trees 
or walls, but the Long-tailed Tits (githalus) (2244-6) build a beautiful 
domed nest of moss and lichen, thickly lined with feathers, with an 
opening near the top, while the species of Remiza (2247-8) construct 
a purse-shaped nest of felted down with a tubular entrance. Six 
species are found in Great Britain, viz: the Great (2253), Coal-(2260), 
Marsh- (2266), Blue (2251), Crested (2263) ,and Long-tailed Tits (2244), 
the latter being one of our smallest birds. The Northern Marsh-Tit 
(2266 a) is an accidental visitor. Of the exotic species, one of the most 
striking is the Sultan-Titmouse (Melanochlora sultanea) (2262)from the 
Indo-Chinese countries, conspicuous on account of its long yellow crest. 
[Case 77. ] 
