152 INSESSORES. LANIUS. Shrike. 



insects, and, in deficiency of such food, with raw-flesh, which 

 they always endeavoured to fasten to the wires or other parts 

 of the cage, previous to tearing it in pieces. 



This bird is very generally dispersed throughout Europe, 

 and, according to Le Vaillant, is common in Africa, where 

 it winters. 



Plate 43. Fig. 2. Male bird, of the natural size. 



Bill black. Irides chestnut-brown. From the forehead a 

 descrip. black streak runs past the eyes, reaching half-down the 



tion- sides of the neck. Crown of the head and nape of the 



neck ash-grey, in some instances tinged with yellowish- 

 grey. Throat and vent white. Breast, belly, and 

 flanks rose-red. Back and wing-coverts reddish-brown. 

 Quills blackish-brown, the edges of the outer webs be- 

 ing paler. Tail slightly wedge-shaped, the middle fea- 

 thers black, the rest with more or less white at the base, 

 and being tipped with white. Shafts black. Legs and 

 feet black. 



Plate 43. Fig 2. Female, natural size. 



Head and all the upper parts of the plumage chestnut- 

 Female, brown. Nape of the neck tinged with ash-grey. Throat 

 and under parts greyish-white. The cheeks, breast, and 

 flanks barred transversely with narrow semicircular 

 blackish-brown lines. Outer webs of the two exterior 

 tail-feathers margined with white. Base of the under 

 mandible yellowish-white. Legs and toes blackish- 

 brown. 



