THE SHRIKES 



1631 



most determined manner, for which purpose its powerful bill is admirably adapted. 

 While searching the branches for food, it frequently erects its crest and assumes 

 many pert and lively positions; and no bird of its size possesses greater strength in 

 its mandibles, or is capable of inflicting more severe wounds. Its song consists only 

 of a few piping notes. The male has the crest pure black; the sides of the head 

 white, divided by a black line; the back, shoulders, and wing coverts olive; the pri- 

 maries, secondaries, and tail blackish brown, margined with gray; the two outer tail 



FRONTAI, SHRIKE TIT. 

 (Five-sixths natural size.) 



feathers and the tips of the remainder being white; while the throat is black, and 

 the under parts are bright yellow. 



The true shrikes {Lanius) have the large compressed bill, hooked 

 and toothed, and thus adapted to enable them to tear the flesh of the 

 small mammals and birds upon which they often prey. The wings are moderate in 

 length but comparatively powerful; the tail is generally much longer than the wings, 

 and graduated, the central feathers being the longest. The relatively-strong meta- 

 tarsus and toes are of assistance in enabling the shrikes to retain hold of beetles and 



True Shrikes 



