AVES—MENURA...SHRIKE. 503 
THE SUPERB MENURA. 
T:11s 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 BUTCHER-BIRD#? 
Tue 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 with 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 ata 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 some- 
times happens that they fall to the ground with the bird they have so fiercely 
1 Menura superba, This is the only one of the genus. It is characterized by a bill 
at its base broader than deep, straight, 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. 
* 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 pointin 
forwards ; nostrils basal, lateral, almost round, half closed by an arched membrane, an 
often ay concealed by hairs; tarsus longer than the middle toe; three toes before and 
one behind, separate; the third and fourth wing feathers longest. 
