PASSERINE. DENTIROSTRES. 



it hovered with it in its bill for a short time over the 

 hedge, apparently occupied in selecting a thorn for 

 its purpose. Upon disturbing it, and advancing to 

 the spot, I found the Chanter firmly fixed by the 

 tendons of the wing at the selected twig."* The 

 Shrikes chiefly inhabit woods, coppices, &c., on the 

 margins of which they find their prey most abundant. 

 The prevailing colours of the European species are 

 ashy grey and white, with a tendency to red in some 

 parts, and the breast marked with delicate wavy lines 

 of brown. Some foreign species, however, are very 

 richly coloured. They are, generally, about the size 

 of the Thrushes, to which they shew a great resem- 

 blance, and into which genus the species merge by 

 an insensible gradation. 



Turdusfi the Thrush. 



Scarcely to be distinguished from the Shrikes by 

 any strongly marked character, the Thrushes have 

 the notches of the bill less deep, the point less 

 hooked, and the toes more fitted for walking. They 

 extend into colder climates, and live chiefly upon 

 snails, slugs, and soft worms, occasionally, however, 

 eating pulpy berries in winter. Many of them are 

 noted for their musical powers : and one in parti- 

 cular, the Mocking-bird of America (T. Polyglottus), 

 has perhaps no successful rival in nature's whole or- 

 chestra. Besides its own powers of song, which is 

 inimitably beautiful, it has the faculty of appro- 



* Vol. i. p. 141. "f* Its Latin name. 



