THE SHKIKES. 379 



been played upon him by some one who desired to tax his credulity to 

 a very great extent. 



It only comes to this country in the winter mouths, although there 

 has been an example of its appearance as early as August. 



In its plumage the Bohemian AYaxwing is a very pretty and striking 

 bird, being as notable for the silken softness of its feathers as for its 

 pleasingly blended colors and the remarkable appendage from which 

 it derives its popular name. The coloring of the bird is very varied, 

 but may briefly be described as follows : The top of the head and the 

 crest are a light soft brown, warming into ruddy chestnut on the fore- 

 head. A well-defined band of black passes over the upper base of the 

 beak, and runs round the back of the head, developing the eyes on 

 each side, and there is a patch of the same jetty hue on the chin. The 

 general color of the bird is gray-brown ; the primary and secondary 

 feathers of the wings and tail are black tipped with yellow, the primary 

 wing-coverts are tipped with white, and the tertiaries are purplish 

 brown, also tipped with white. The under surface of the bird is sober 

 gray, and the under tail-coverts are rich ruddy brown. The length 

 of the Waxen Chatterer is about eight inches. 



We now arrive at the family of Lanidse, or Shrikes, or Butcher 

 Birds, whose character is given in the names by which they are dis- 

 tinguished. The scientific 

 term Lanidoe is of Latin 

 origin, and is derived from 

 a word which signifies " la- 

 cerating " or *' tearing," in al- 

 lusion to the habits of the 

 bird. These birds are found 

 in all parts of the globe, and 

 in all countries are celebrated The Great American Shrike, or Butcher 

 for their sanguinary and sav- Bird. 



age character. They are quite as rapacious as any of the hawk tribe, 

 and, in proportion to their size, are much more destructive and blood- 

 thirsty. They feed upon small and disabled mammalia and birds of 

 various kinds, especially preferring them while young and still un- 

 fledged, and upon several kinds of reptiles, and also find great part 

 of their subsistence among the members of the insect world. 



In order to fit them for these rapacious pursuits, the bill is strong, 

 rather elongated, sharp-edged, curved at the tip, and armed on each 

 side with a well-marked tooth. The wings are powerful, the plumage 

 closely set, and the claws strong, curved, and sharp. The Shrikes are 

 separated for convenience of reference into two groups or sub-families, 

 namely, the true Shrikes, or Lauinse, and the Bush Shrikes, or Tham- 

 nophiliuai. 



