VIGORS' BUSH SURlKK—ThamndpUlus Vigorsii. 



The second sub-family of the Butcher Birds, namely the Thamnophilik"^, or Bush 

 Shrikes, are well represented by the beautiful Vigors' Bush Shrike. 



This bird is a native of Southern America, and is generally found in forests and thick 

 brushwood, where it passes its time in a constant search after the small mammalia, birds, 

 reptiles, and insects, on which it feeds. It is a large and rather powerful bird, and as it 

 possesses a strong and sharply hooked beak, is a very formidable foe to any creature 

 which it may attack. Its claws are also powerful, curved and very sharp, so that the 

 bird is aided by its feet as well as by its beak in the demolition of its prey. In order to 

 enable the bird to prey among the rank herbage and thick massy foliage of the localities 

 in which it dwells, its legs are long in proportion to the size of its body, and the grasp of 

 its feet very strong, so that it is able to perch upon a bough or on the ground, and raise 

 its head to some height while surveying the locality with its piercing glance. The wings 

 are rather short and rounded, as long and sharply-pointed wings would be of little 

 use in threading the network of leaves and branches among which it takes up its 

 residence. 



The tail of the Vigors' Bush Shrike is long in proportion to the size of the body, and 

 -extends far beyond the closed wings. The general colour of the male bird is sooty black 

 upon the head and the whole of the upper surface, diversified with numerous transverse 

 bars of rich red chestnut. The under parts of the body are pale greyish brown. The 

 head is decorated with a crest of erectile feathers, ruddy throughout the greater part of 

 their length, and marked with black at their tips. The female is distinguished from the 



