456 LANIID.S. 



The Laniidce or Shrikes are a group of birds in which the plumage 

 of the young is cross-barred, as a rule both above and below. As 

 thus defined, this group is of the same extent as the Laniidce of 

 Jerdon, with the exception that the Dicruridce are here separated 

 from the family. 



In the Laniidce, and especially in Lanius, the bill is very strong, 

 being both hooked and notched. These birds live almost entirely 

 on insects, the true Shrikes occasionally seizing a small bird or 

 mammal. Some descend to the ground to seize their prey, a few 

 catch inserts entirely on the wing, and others, again, merely search 

 branches and leaves for their food. 



Some of the genera of Laniidce are remarkable for the spinous 

 character of the shafts of the rump-feathers. These constitute the 

 subfamily Campophagince of Jerdon. The only other Indian bird 

 possessing this curious structure of the feathers is Pinarocichla 

 (p. 279) ; but whereas in Campopliaga and the allied genera it is 

 the feathers of the rump which are stiffened, in Pinarociclila it is 

 chiefly the feathers of the back. 



All the Laniidce have rictal bristles, a scutellated tarsus, and 

 twelve tail-feathers. They have only one moult a year. The young 

 retain the barred plumage throughout their first winter, the bars 

 gradually becoming fewer and some disappearing entirely by a 

 change of colour in the feather. In some few genera the barred 

 plumage appears to be retained for two or more years, and traces 

 of bars may be detected on the breast of what are apparently aged 

 birds. 



I shall divide the Laniidce into two subfamilies only, the Laniince 

 and the Artamince. 



Wings when folded not reaching beyond middle 



of tail; first primary not shorter than 



tarsus ; second primary falling short of tip 



of wing Laniince, p. 456. 



Wings when folded reaching quite to tip of tail ; 



first primary very minute, much shorter 



than tarsus; second primary longest in 



wing Artamince, p. 498. 



Subfamily LANIIN.E. 



This subfamily comprises the true Shrikes, the Pied-Shrikes, 

 the Wood-Shrikes, the Jay-Shrikes, the Minivets, and the Cuckoo- 

 Shrikes. 



Key to the Genera. 



a. Shafts of rump-feathers soft. 

 a'. Head not crested. 



a". Tail-feathers well graduated. 



a'". Bill deep and laterally compressed ; 

 margin of upper mandible near tip 

 strongly notched and toothed. . . . LANIUS, p. 457. 



