ORDER PASSERES. 263 



sides. Some have the upper crest arched : those in 

 which its point is very strong and crooked, possess a 

 degree of courage and cruelty which has caused many 

 naturalists to associate them with the birds of prey. 

 In fact, they do pursue small birds, and defend them- 

 selves with success against the larger ; and they will 

 even attack the latter when it is necessary to drive 

 them from the nest. 



The Shrikes live in families, fly unequally and 

 precipitately, sending forth piercing cries. They 

 nestle in trees, lay five or six eggs, and take great 

 care of their young. 



We have here four species of this subdivision. 



The Great Cinereous Shrike. [Laniiis excubitor, L.) 

 Enl. 445. Penn. B. Z. t. 73. 



As large as a thrush, ash-colour above, white under- 

 neath ; wings, tail, and a band round the eye, black. 

 White on the scapulars, at the base of the quills of 

 the wing, and at the external edge of the lateral quills 

 of the tail. It remains the entire year in France. 



The Lesser Gray Shrike. Lath. (Lanius excubitor minor. Gm.) 

 Enl. 32, 1. 



Rather less than the preceding, wings and tail alike, 

 ash colour above, reddish on the belly. The black 

 bands of the eyes united on the forehead in a broad 

 bandeau. This is a very distinct species ; it learns 

 extremely well to imitate the song of other birds. 



The Red Shrike, Wood Chat. Lath. (L. Collurio rufus et 



