PASSEEINE BIEDS OF CEYLON. 89 



The family is divided into two sub-families : — 



(1) Laniinse, which comprises our true Shrikes, Pied Shrike, 

 Wood Shrike, Minivets, and Cuckoo Shrikes. 



In all these forms the first primary is not excessively small, 

 and the folded wings do not reach beyond the middle of the tail. 



(2) Artaminas. — Swallow Shrikes — in which the forked 

 wings reach to the tip of the tail ; the first primary is very 

 minute, and the second primary the longest in the wing. 



Sub-family Laniinse. 

 True Shrikes, <&€. 

 This sub-family contains rather a varied series of forms, 

 most of which are wholly arboreal. The head is large for the 

 size of the bird, and the crown is broad and flat. They may 

 be divided into two groups. First, the true Shrikes, Pied 

 Shrike, and Wood Shrike, in which the sexes are alike, or do 

 not differ greatly, and the shafts of the rump feathers are soft. 

 This group includes five species found in Ceylon : Three true 

 Shrikes with predaceous bills and a distinctive mask-like, dark 

 band across the face from the nostrils to the ear coverts ; the 

 tiny Black and White Pied Shrike with a broad flab bill and 

 the habits of a Flycatcher ; and the Wood Shrike an incon- 

 spicuously coloured little bird, with a strong bill well hooked 

 and notched. The second group, in which the sexes, as a rule, 

 are markedly different, and the shafts of the rump feathers 

 are stiffened, contains four Ceylon species, the two gaily 

 coloured httle Minivets and two Cuckoo Shrikes. The latter 

 are not so gaudily coloured and include one species, of the 

 genus Graucalus, which is our largest Shrike. The sexes in 

 this species do not differ greatly. 



Key to Ceylon Laniinse. 

 I. — Shaft of rump feathers soft ; sexes similar or almost so. 



A. — Outer tail feathers much shorter than inner ; 

 wing pointed. 



(a) Bill deep and narrow, the tip well hooked 

 and notched ; a conspicuous dark band from 

 the nostrils through the eye to the ear coverts. 

 Genus Lanius. 

 12 - 6(17)21 



