LANIIN^E. 593 



Subfamily LAXIIN^E, OE SHEIKES. 



The Shrikes and their allies form a considerable group of birds whose 

 exact affinities are very difficult to determine. The general form of the 

 bill resembles that of the Crows ; but in the typical Shrikes it is much 

 more decidedly hooked and has the upper mandible deeply notched. 

 The wings vary from flat pointed migratory wings to rounded concave 

 sedentary wings ; the first primary is sometimes very small, but usually well 

 developed. The tail is generally much graduated. The tarsus and feet 

 resemble those of the Crows and Tits. The young in first plumage in 

 some species differ but slightly from the adults, whilst in others this dif- 

 ference is more marked, the upper and underparts being more or less 

 barred and spotted and the colours generally less brilliant. 



It is very difficult to obtain accurate information respecting the 

 moulting of the Shrikes; but it seems probable that the Great Grey 

 Shrike, which can scarcely be called a migratory bird, has a regular 

 autumn moult, whilst the "Woodchat, the Red-backed and the Lesser Grey 

 Shrikes appear to be anomalous in this respect. These birds migrate in 

 their worn and faded breeding-plumage, and are said to begin to moult 

 immediately upon their arrival in their winter quarters ; but the process 

 appears to be a slow one, as birds which have not completed their moult 

 are sometimes obtained as late as the beginning of spring. 



The Laniinse are an Old-world group of birds. A few species are 

 found in the Xearctic Region ; but they can only be regarded as strag- 

 glers from the Palsearctic Region. They are tolerably well distributed 

 over the Palaearctic Region ; but by far the greatest number of species are 

 found in the Ethiopian, Oriental, and Australian Regions. They number 

 about two hundred and fifty species and subspecies, of which eight are 

 found on the continent of Europe ; five of these, all included in the genus 

 Lanius, are British. 



VOL. I. 2 Q 



