28 LANIAM. 



we may also recognise the admirable adaptation of nature in 

 giving it such an adequate protection against the rigors of 

 the northern latitudes, which it frequents. 

 Habitat Northern Europe. 



. ORDER II INCESSORES (PERCHING BIRDS). 



SUB-ORDER DENTIROSTRES (NOTCHED-BILLED 

 BIRDS). 



FAMILY IV. LANIAD.E (SHRIKES). 



GENUS XIV LANIUS (SHRIKE). 



SPECIES 26 THE GREAT GREY SHRIKE. 



Lanius excubitor. Linn. 

 Pie-grieche grise. Temm. 



Butcher Bird. Grey Shrike. 



THIS family, represented in our island by the occasional oc- 

 currence of a single species, is one offering the greatest inte- 

 rest to the ornithologist. Linking, in an admirable manner, 

 the great orders of the raptores and incessores, its affinity to 

 one is indicated by its habits, and to the other by the gene- 

 ral form of the species. 



The present shrike, the largest in size visiting the British 

 isles, has only occurred in our own island in about fifteen se- 

 parate instances* in various localities, north and south ; all 

 of which were obtained during autumn. 



Resembling the other species comprised in this family in 

 habits, the food of the great grey shrike consists of small 

 birds, mice, and insects, which, when killed, are impaled, or 

 otherwise fastened, upon a thorn, and rent into pieces by 

 this handsome little tyrant. 



Occasionally, like the flycatcher, it selects a prominent po- 

 sition upon the outer branches of the hedgerow, whence it 

 sallies into the air in pursuit of its insect prey. As noted in 

 Mr. Thompson's work upon the Irish Fauna, we had the 

 pleasure of observing a bird of this species at Montpelier, one 



* Thompson. 



