AVES—MENURA... SHRIKE. 503 



THE SUPERB MENURA.i 



This singular bird is a native of New Holland. It is about the size of 

 the hen-pheasant ; its length is three feet and a half from the point of the 

 beak to the longest tail feather ; the general color is brown ; the tail consists 

 of sixteen feathers, twelve of which are very curiously webbed. 



THE SHRIKE, OR B U T C H E R-B I R D .2 



The habits of the butcher-bird seem to correspond with its confor- 

 mation, and it lives as well upon flesh as upon insects, and thus partakes in 

 some measure of a double nature. Its appetite for flesh, however, is the 

 most prevalent ; and it never takes up with the former when it can obtain 

 the latter. This bird, therefore, leads a life of continual combat and oppo- 

 sition. As from its size it does not much terrify the smaller birds of the 

 forest, so it very frequently meets birds willing to try its strength, and it 

 never declines the engagement. In Russia it is trained for catching small 

 birds, like a falcon. 



It is wonderful to see Avith what intrepidity this little creature goes to 

 war with the pie, the crow, and the kestril, all above four times larger than 

 itself. It not only fights upon the defensive, but often comes to the attack, 

 and always with advantage, particularly when the male and female unite to 

 protect their young, and to drive away the more powerful birds of rapine. 

 At that season, they do not wait the approach of their invader ; it is suffi- 

 cient that they see him preparing for the assault at a distance. It is then 

 that they sally forth with loud cries, wound him on every side, and drive 

 him off" with such fury, that he seldom ventures to return to the charge. In 

 these disputes they generally come off with the victory; though it some- 

 times happens that they fall to the ground with the bird they have so fiercely 



1 3'Icnura swperba. This is the only one of the genus. It is characterized by a bill 

 at its base broader than deep, strais^ht, and somewhat slender, inclined at the point, 

 which is notched, and furnished at the base with setaceous plumes, pointing- forwards ; 

 lower mandible shortest ; nostrils oval, large, covered with a membrane, and situated in 

 the middle of the bill ; claws as long as the toes, broad, convex above, obtuse ; wings 

 short, concave. 



2 Lanius excubitor, Lin. The genus Lanius has the bill middle sized, robust, straight 

 from its origin, and much compressed ; upper mandible strongly bent towards the tip^ 

 which is hooked, the base destitute of a cere, and furnished with rough hairs pointing 

 forwards ; nostrils basal, lateral, almost round, half closed by an arched membrane, and 

 often partly concealed by hairs; tarsus longer than the middle toe; three toes before and 

 one behind, separate ; the third and fourth wing feathers longest. 



