92 LANIIN/E. LAX I US. 



moderate width, without crop or dilatation ; proventriculus 

 oblong ; stomach elliptical, moderately muscular ; its epithe- 

 lium thin, dense, and rugous ; intestine short ; coeca very 

 small, and cylindrical; cloaca oblong. Nostrils rather small, 

 roundish, in the fore part of the moderately large nasal 

 sinus, which is covered with bristly feathers directed for- 

 wards. Eyes of moderate size. Aperture of ear roundish, 

 and rather large. Body compact ; neck short ; head large, 

 ovate. Legs rather short, and of moderate strength ; tarsus 

 rather slender, compressed, with seven anterior scutella, 

 sharp behind ; toes rather small, much compressed, the outer 

 and middle united as far as the second joint, the first stout 

 and long, the lateral nearly equal ; claws rather long, arched, 

 much compressed, laterally grooved, extremely acute. Plu- 

 mage soft and blended, the feathers ovate ; stiffish basirostral 

 bristles ; wings of moderate length, broad, rather rounded ; 

 tail long, straight, rounded, of twelve rather narrow feathers. 

 The Shrikes are remarkable for their direct affinrty to the 

 Falconinae, exhibited by the structure of their bill, and their 

 rapacious habits, most of the larger species killing small 

 birds, mice, and reptiles, as well as insects, on which latter 

 the smaller species chiefly feed. They are generally unsocial, 

 tyrannical, and courageous birds, with a harsh, screamy 

 voice, and undulating flight. They seldom alight on the 

 ground, but assume a station on a twig, or other perch, 

 whence they sally in pursuit of their prey, or search for it 

 along the thickets and hedges, hovering like hawks. The 

 larger insects they usually impale on a thorn, or fix in the 

 fork of a branch. They form an elaborate hemispherical 

 nest, and lay from four to eight spotted eggs. The young, 

 at first blind and bare, remain until able to fly. 



41. LANIUS EXCUBITOR. GREAT CINEREOUS SHRIKE. 



Male with the upper parts light ash-grey, the lower white ; 

 on the side of the head from the nasal membrane to behind 

 the ear, a broad black band, margined above with white ; 

 quills brownish-black, their bases white, forming two patches 

 of that colour when the wing is closed ; terminal portion of 

 outer scapulars, and tips of all the quills excepting the outer 

 five, white ; tail black, the feathers white at both extremities, 



