2G4 CLASS AVE9. 



L. Pomeranus, Gm.) Enl. 9. 2. L. Rutilus, Lath. L. rufi- 

 collis, Sh. L. riifus, Briss. Vail. O. A. pi. 63. f. 1. 2. 



The bandeau, wings, and tail of the preceding ; the 

 size a little less. The upper part of the head and 

 neck a lively red ; the back black, the belly and crup- 

 per white. It has also great powers of imitation. 



The Red-backed Shrike, Lath. (Lan. Collurio, Gm.) Enl. 31. 

 f. 1. 2. Penn. Br. Z. L Vail. O. A. t. 44. f 12. L. Spini 

 Torquens. Bechst. 



Still smaller. The upper part of head and crupper, 

 ash-colour ; back and wings fawn ; underneath whi- 

 tish ; a black band over the eye ; the quills of the 

 wings black, edged with fawn; those of the tail 

 black, the lateral ones white at the base. It imitates 

 naturally and immediately the voices of the best 

 singing species. Too weak to attack birds^ it destroys 

 a great quantity of insects, which it sticks (according 

 to report) on the thorns,, to find them again when it 

 wants them. 



The three last species quit us during winter. 



In foreign countries there are many more. The 

 beaks diminish and grow weak in their points 

 gradually, according to the species, so that it is im- 

 possible to establish a limit between this subgenus 

 and the thrush. 



Lanius Meridionalis . Temm. 



Very like the great cinereous Shrike, but peculiar to 

 middle Europe : the upper part is a deeper ash, and 

 the lower part more reddish. 



