Familij of Laniadce. 299 



extends to the form of the nares, and the lengthened and robust 

 tarsi. When these perplexing difficulties occur, and we are ia 

 doubt as to the situation of a bird, uniting in itself characters of two 

 4istinct tribes, our decision must always be regulated by its natural 

 economy. Yet in the present instance, this is somewhat difficult; 

 for the statements before us are meagre and contradictory ; M. 

 Vieillot, when describing another species of this type, (Lwiiarius 

 •oiridis,') observes, probably on the authority of Perrien, (whose 

 book I have no means of consulting,) Elle se tient dans les bois les 

 plusfourrisj a la cime des grands arbres, oil le male fait entendre 

 un si-ffletfort, qui a quelque rapport avec celui de la caille d'Eui^ope. 

 On Vapproche difficilement, si on n'imite sa voix ; car il est d'un 

 naturel sauvage et ires defiant. Les bates sont sa nourriture 

 principale. — Galerie des Oiseaux, Liv. 43. pi. 143. On this pas- 

 sage I must make two remarks ; relying on the accuracy of M. 

 yieillot, in associating this bird with the Barbary shrike, Mhich 

 indeed, (judging from the figure) it very much resembles. 1st, The 

 Tvings of the African Malaconotus, like those of Laniarius barbarusy 

 are rounded, and very weak ; and we shall quote the opinion of 

 M. Le Vaillant, to show the importance of this structure, when 

 connected with their economy. " Ces caracteres de la coupe de 

 Vaile infiuant beaucoitp sur la manierc de voler des oiseaux^ ceux- 

 ci ne se rencontrent que tres-rarement sur le sommet des arbres, 

 Qu nous uvons fait remarquer que les pie-grieches de la premiere', 

 section^ (G. Lanius, nob.) se perchoient toujour s de preference; il 

 est memc des especes dans cetle seconde division^ (G. Malacoiiotus 

 nob.) que la nature exclut eniierement de dessus les arbres eleves^ 

 elles cherchent leur nourriture parmi les buissons bas et toujfus, 

 dans le centre desquels elles se cachent soigneusement, et vivent 

 principalement de chenilles de vers et de toutes sortes dUnsectes. 

 La foiblesse de leurs uiles leur interdlt ioute espece d^insectes." 



I have given this passage at length, because it acquaints us 

 with the true economy of the Malaconoti^ and at the same time 

 proves the incapacity of Luiuarius to frequent the tops of lofty trees. 

 On the second part of M. Vieillot's statement, it may be observed, 

 that if the principal food of Laniarius viridis be berries, it can- 

 not belong to a tribe so truly insectivorous as the Laniadwy but 



