PASSERINE. 179 



There are four or five species of this subdivision in Europe, as 



The Sentinel Shrike {L. excuhitor, Lin.) — As large as a Tlirush, and ash-coloui-ed above, white underneath : the 

 wings, tail, and a band crossing the eyes, black ; some >Yhite on the scapulars and tail. It resides all the year in 

 France, [and is chiefly known as an uncommon winter visitant in Britain]. 



The Red-backed Shrike (i. colltmo, Gm.)— Smaller, with the head and rump ash-coloured, the back and wings 

 reddish-brown, a black streak through the eyes, lower parts whitish, tinged with pinkish lilach, wings and tail dull 

 black, the side feathers of the latter white at the base externally. [Female, brown above, without transverse stria;, and 

 sometimes attaining the masculine livery with age.] It destroys other Birds, young Frogs, and a vast number of 

 insects, which it impales on the thorns of bushes, to devour at leisure, [a habit common to the whole genus, w hence 

 they have derived the name of Butcher-birds. AVe may here remark that the Shrikes have great power of clutching 

 with their toes, and always hold their prey in one foot, resting on the tarsal joint of that foot, unless when they 

 have fastened it upon a thorn, when they pull it to pieces in a contrary direction. The present species feeds much 

 on small mammalia, as Shrews and the smaller Voles, captures insects on the wing in the manner of a Flycatcher, 

 and is a common summer visitant in the southern counties of England]. 



The Wood Shrike {L. riiftis, Gm.)— Wings and tail nearly as in the preceding, the band across the eyes meeting 

 over the forehead, the head and neck bright rufous, back black, the scapulars, rump, and lower parts, white. 

 [Sexes almost similar. A summer visitant, of very rare occuri-ence in Britain. There are two others in Europe, 

 allied to the first, L. minor, Gm., and L. meridionalis, Tem.; and many more in Asia, Africa, and America, some 

 of the former having shorter w ings, and a longer and more cuneated tail.] 



There are numerous exotic species with arcuated beaks, the points of which diminish by degrees, till it becomes 

 impossible to define the Umits between them and the Tlirushes. 



The genus Lanio of Vieillot is founded on one of them, the edges of the upper mandible of which are slightly 

 angular. It is the Tangara mordore oi Button, {Tan. atricapiUa, Gm.) 



Various species with feeble bills constitute the Laniarius of Vieillot. (Gal. Ois. 1-13.) 



The Vireoles ( Vireo) of the same naturalist chiefly difter in the shortness and slenderness of the bill. [They con- 

 stitute a very distinct genus, consisting of the warbling Fli/catchers of North America, as Muscicapa olivacea, 

 Wils., and many proximate species, which are allied to the Pettychaps group (the restricted Sylvia, or Phillo- 

 pnetiste) of Europe : they are to a considerable extent baccivorous.] 



Other Shrikes have the superior mandible straight, and abruptly hooked at the tip. Thej' are all 

 foreign, and grade towards the Fauvettes and other slender-billed Dentirostres. 



[They constitute the Thamnophilus of Vieillot, as now generally accepted, wherein the plumage is soft and puffj-, 

 and conspicuously barred across at all ages, these markings being in some instances broken into spots, as in tie 

 nestling dress of the Thrushes, to which and the true Shrikes they are intermediate, passing to the Thrushes 

 through lantJwdncla. They are also related to the Antcatchers, and are indigenous to South America]. 



Some of them have a straight and very strong beak, the lower mandible of which is much inflated ; 



As L. lineatus, Leach, (Zool. Misc. pi. vi.), Thamnophilus guttattts, Spix. 



Others, again, with a straight and slender bill, are remarkable for their crests of vertical feathers ; 



As L. plumattis, Shaw ; of which Vieillot makes his genus Prionops, and le Maniaip of Buifon (Pipra albifrons, 

 Gm.), which has nothing in common with the true Pipra, beyond a more than usually prolonged junction of the 

 two outer toes. M. Vieillot makes of it his genus Pithys. (Gal. 129.) 



Among these Shrikes, more particularly so called, some other exotic subgenera, that differ more or 

 less, require to be specified. Such are 



The Vangas {Vanga), Buifon, — 

 Distinguished by a large beak, very much compressed throughout, its tip strongly hooked, and that of 

 the lower mandible bent downward. 

 The Vanga {L. curvirostris, Gm.), and also some newly-discovered species, as V. destructor, Cuv., &c. 

 The Langareys {Ocypterus, Cuv.; Arfamus, Vieillot) — 

 Have the beak conical and rounded, without any ridge, somewhat arched towards the tip, with a very 

 fine point, slightly emarginated on each side. Their feet are very short, and the wings in particular 

 reach beyond the tail, which renders their flight similar to that of a Swallow ; but they have the 

 courage of the Shrikes, and do not fear to attack even the Crow. 



Numerous species inhabit the coasts and islands of the Indian Ocean, where they are continually seen on the 

 wing, flying swiftly in pursuit of insects.* [They are unquestionably allied to the following.] 



The Baritahs {Barita, Cuv. ; Cracticus, Vieillot) — 



Have a large and straight conical beak, round at its base, — where it extends circularly backward upon 



• Coiiiiult a raonogrnph of this Rciius, by M. VaUiicif nne», publislied in SIrm. du Mus , i„in. vi, p. iO. 



N L' 



