186 AFFINITIES AND GEOGRAPHICAL 



prepare us for hearing of series of birds descended from the 

 predaceous crows, with that reduced kind of raptorial beak 

 which, having a curve and a notch or tooth in the upper 

 mandible, gives them in classification the name of Den- 

 tirostres. One of these genera is the Shrikes or Butcher 

 Birds (LaniadcR), a numerous and widely-diffused assem- 

 blage, living upon the smaller birds and insects, the former 

 of which, the shrike sticks, when killed, upon thorns, as a 

 butcher hangs up meat in his stall; hence the name of the 

 genus. From the shrikes also proceed certain genera of 

 eminently insectivorous habits, and some of which, in ac- 

 cordance with that kind of prey, have the reduced form of 

 beak called fissirostral, accompanied by a great width of 

 gape namely, the Swallows, Swifts, and Martins (Hirun- 

 dinidcR) ; the Nightjars and Goatsuckers (Caprimulgidcz), 

 which, feeding by night, are to the swallows what the owls 

 are to the falcons ; also the Fly-catchers (Muscicapidce), a 

 genus so near to the shrikes in aspect, that several of the 

 species have been classed by various naturalists in that 

 group. 



From the shrikes, moreover, if we can trust to an admitted 

 affinity, come the Thrushes and Blackbirds (Merulidfs^ 

 whose fine song has blinded us in some degree to their 

 destructive habits ; as also certain corresponding birds of 

 other countries, the Breves of India and Australia, the Water 

 Owzel of Europe ; the Mocking Bird, Water Thrush, and 

 Ant Thrush of America. The Lyre-birds of Australia are 

 also in strong affinity to the thrushes. Here it may be re- 

 marked, that the blackbird, as well as the crow, occasionally 

 produces a white offspring, thus returning as it were to the 

 primitive type. 



The meruline family have an extensive progeny in the 

 warblers (Sylviadce}, nightingale, stone-chat, blackcap, red- 

 breast, redstart, &c., which are specially inhabitants of the 

 groves and thickets, and devourers of insects. The affiliation 

 here is peculiarly distinct : M. Vieillot remarks, " a spotted 

 warbler is to my eye nothing but a thrush in miniature." 

 With the thrushes are also connected the wagtails (Mota- 



