154 INSESSORES. LANIUS. WOODCHAT. 



is not so fully detailed as satisfactorily to identify the species, 

 and the figure bears a greater resemblance to the female or 

 young of Lanius Collurio, than to any state of the adult 

 Woodchat ; for the female of this species, like the male, pos- 

 sesses the distinguishing patch of white upon the scapulary 

 feathers ; and the markings and disposition of the colours of 

 her plumage are nearly the same as in the male, only pos- 

 sessing less intensity and purity of tint. The bird he has 

 figured may, I allow, have been the young of the species in 

 question, as TEMMINCK remarks that they are very like the 

 female of the Red-backed Shrike (Laniua Collurio), and are 

 chiefly to be distinguished by the different proportions of the 

 wings and tail. 



The habits of the Woodchat are similar to those of the 

 preceding species, and it pursues the same method of trans- 

 fixing its prey, when caught, upon thorns, Sec. 



Food. Its food consists of the larger insects, and occasionally of 



young or weak small birds and mammalia. 



It is not uncommon in parts of France, and is also found 

 in Switzerland, Italy, and Germany. It is very plentiful in 

 Northern Africa, from whence I have obtained specimens. 

 Nest, &c. It is said to build its nest in shrubby underwood, suspend- 

 ing it between the forks of branches in the manner of the 

 Orioles ; and the eggs are often six in number, of a greenish- 

 white, varied with blotches of grey. 



PLATE C. Fig. 1. Represents the male bird in the adult 

 General plumage. The form is typical ; the second quill-feather 



tkm. P slightly exceeding the fifth. Bill strong, convex above, 



Male Bird. tne tooth or emargination of the upper mandible pro- 

 minent, and distinctly marked. Above each nostril is 

 a patch of white. Frontal band and region of the eyes 

 and auricular s, brownish-black. Crown, occiput, and 

 back part of the neck, reddish-orange. Mantle black. 

 Scapulars white, forming a large and distinct patch. 

 Wing-coverts and secondaries brownish-black ; the lat- 



