EXCURTRICES. 89 



exclusively, we find some which, graduating into the series 

 of Walking Birds, are in a manner intermediate. Of this 

 kind are the Shrikes, Flycatchers, various other families, of 

 which we have no representatives in Britain, and perhaps 

 the Rollers. The Shrikes are in some respects closely allied 

 to the Hawks, in others to the Thrushes, while they are also 

 intimately connected with the Flycatchers, which are akin 

 to the Swallows. 



ORDER V. EXCURTRICES. SNATCHERS. 



Body ovate, compact ; neck short ; head rather large, 

 ovate. Bill short or of moderate length, broad at the 

 base, compressed at the end ; upper mandible with a 

 small decurved tip, behind which on either side are a 

 sinus or notch, and a tooth-like process, which is often 

 very prominent. Tongue narrow, flat, emarginate, and 

 papillate at the base, thin-edged, with the point slit, or 

 lacerated ; oesophagus wide, without crop ; stomach ellip- 

 tical, moderately muscular, having two distinct lateral 

 muscles, its epithelium dense and rugous ; intestine short 

 and wide ; coeca very small. Trachea cylindrical, the 

 inferior larynx with four pairs of muscles. Legs very 

 short and small, or moderate ; tarsus much compressed, 

 with about seven scutella ; toes four, slender, compressed ; 

 the first stouter, and with its claw nearly as long as the 

 third, which is united to the second at the base, the late- 

 ral toes nearly equal ; claws rather long, curved or arched, 

 much compressed, laterally grooved, very acute. Plumage 

 soft, generally blended ; wings rather long, rounded, of 

 eighteen quills, the first very small, the third and fourth 

 longest ; tail of twelve feathers. 



