SHRIKE 845 
Red-backed Shrike, L. collwrio, the best-known species in Great 
Britain, where it is a summer visitor, and, though its distribution is 
rather local, it may be seen in many parts of England and occasion- 
ally reaches Scotland. The cock is a sightly bird with his grey 
head and neck, black cheek-band, chestnut back and pale red 
breast, while the hen is ordinarily of a dull brown, barred on the 
lower plumage. A more highly-coloured species is called the 
Woodchat, LZ. auriculatus or rutilus, with a bright bay crown and 
nape, and the rest of its plumage black, grey and white. ‘This is 
an accidental visitor to England, but breeds commonly in many 
parts of Europe. 
The limits of the Family Laniidx have been very variously 
regarded, and agreement between almost any two systematists on 
this point seems at present out of the question. The latest synopsis 
is that by Dr. Gadow (Cat. B. Brit. Mus. viii. pp. 88-321), who 
frankly states that it is “quite impossible to give a concise diagnosis 
of what we are to understand by” the Family. For his purpose he 
NILAUS. LANIARIUS. TELEPHONUS. 
(After Swainson.) 
makes it to include about 250 species and divides it into five sub- 
families :—Gymnorhininx, Malaconotine—including such forms as 
Nilaus, Laniarius and Telephonus, Pachycephaline—of which Falcunculus 
may serve as an example, Laniinw and 
Vireonine. Of these doubts may be 
especially entertained as to the affinity 
of the first and last. He, but for the 
crude plan to which he was compelled 
to conform, would not have separated 
Strepera from GYMNORHINA, but the 
former had been already included, to 
the exclusion of the latter, among the 
Corvidx, and even placed among the normal Corvinw. The need 
of exercising reserve on this matter has been before stated (Crow, 
p. 116); but the number of ornithologists who think that these 
two genera should be placed in different Families must be small. 
Faucuncutus. (After Swainson.) 
extreme to the other can be found. The differences when compared with those 
observable in other animals are, as a whole, too slight to justify the epithet 
‘“‘polymorphic” to L. excubitor as a species ; but enough has been said to shew 
that it indicates a tendency in that direction. 
