146 INSESSORES. LANIAD^. 



the aberrant forms, it is found of great breadth, and much 

 depressed at the base, approaching nearly in shape to that of 

 the Flycatchers of the preceding family. The Laniadse are 

 all insectivorous, and some few belonging to the strong-billed 

 groups are partly carnivorous, destroying young and weak 

 birds, and the smaller mammalia. According to Mr SWAIN- 

 SON, who has analyzed the group of the Laniadae with the 

 acumen and indefatigable perseverance that so eminently dis- 

 tinguish him, the five following subfamilies compose its cir- 

 cle, viz. Tyrannina, Laniana, ThamnopJiilina, Edol'iana, 

 and Cellepyrina, of which the typical genera are, Tyrannus 

 (BRISSON), Lanius (LiNN.), ThamnopMlus (ViEiL.), Ocyp- 

 terus (Cuv.), and Ceblepyris (Cuv.) ; all of which, it is al- 

 most unnecessary to add, are intimately connected among 

 themselves by strong and well defined characteristics. Of 

 the first subfamily (Tyrannina) we have not any examples, 

 this form being restricted to America ; of the second (Lania- 

 na) we have three species, belonging to the genus Lanius ; 

 the next three are also unknown in Europe. 



SUBFAMILY LANIANA. 



In addition to the true Shrikes, or Butcher Birds, com- 

 posing the genus Lanius as now restricted, and which are 

 the typical representatives of the present tribe, this subfa- 

 mily contains various other genera, nearly allied to each 

 other, but departing in some points, either of organization or 

 habits, from the type. Such are the genus Malaconotos, be- 

 longing to the African continent ; that of Falcunculus, dis- 

 covered in New Holland; and various others, which lead the 

 way to, and connect the present with, other tribes and fami- 

 lies of the Insessores. Speaking generally of the genus now 

 before us, the bill may be stated as strong, and compressed ; 

 having the upper mandible more or less arched ; and being 

 armed with a prominent emargination or tooth. The legs of 



