INSESSORES. LANIUS. 147 



mean length and strength, and better adapted for perching 

 than for walking. Wings rather short ; with the tail some- 

 what elongated, and commonly graduated. These birds are 

 insectivorous, and some of them also carnivorous, but their 

 prey is almost entirely captured by the bill. In Britain we 

 only possess examples of the typical genus Lanms. 



Genus LANIUS, Linn. SHRIKE. 



GENERIC CHARACTERS. 



Bill rather thick, straight at the base, compressed, upper 

 mandible considerably deflected at the point, and strongly 

 emarginated or toothed. Base of the bill beset with hairy 

 feathers directed forwards. Nostrils basal, lateral, and egg- 

 shaped, partly closed by an arched membrane. Feet with 

 three toes before, and one behind ; the outer toe united at its 

 base to the middle one. Tarsus longer than the middle toe. 

 Claws falcate and sharp. Wings having the first quill short ; 

 the second less than the third and fourth, which are the 

 longest in each wing. 



The food of this genus principally consists of insects, 

 sometimes of smaller birds and animals, which they tear in 

 pieces with their bill, having first transfixed the object upon 

 a thorn. Their mode of flight is irregular, and the tail is 

 kept in constant agitation, as is the case with many birds be- 

 longing to this tribe. Some of the species are subject to a 

 double moult, or rather to a change of colour in certain 

 parts of the plumage twice in the year ; in the rest it is ordi- 

 nary and single. 



