GREAT OBEY SHRIKE. 19 



the Falcons, but lie subsequently formed tbem into the distinct genus 

 Lanius, still keeping them among the Accipitres, or Birds of Prey. 

 They were, however, separated from this last class by Illiger and Cuvier. 

 Temminck, in the first edition of his "Manual," placed them directly 

 after his order Rapaces ; but as he justly observes their manners and 

 habits are so similar to those of the great group comprised in his 

 Insectivores, that in his second edition in 1820 he placed them at 

 the head of that order. Schlegel places the Swallows between the 

 JRaptores and the Lanidce. Swainson classes the latter directly after 

 the Raptores, while Bonaparte separates them from that order by no 

 less than twelve families, including the Hirundinidoe , Syhiidoe, 

 Paridce, Merulidce, etc. 



The limits of this book will not allow me to enter at length into 

 the various reasons assigned for these different generic positions. 

 Temminck, however, did not form his arrangement upon one or two 

 peculiar characteristics; he took a masterly view of the various groups 

 of birds, and he assigned to them the position they hold in his 

 classification, according to their natural affinities. Thus the Sturnidce 

 are insect feeders and have a musical note, but in their habits they 

 assimilate with the Crows, and he therefore excluded them from the 

 Lisectivores, and placed them with the Rollers, the Chatterers, the ■ 

 Orioles, and the Pastors, in the Omnivores. But the habits of the 

 Shrikes are altogether those of our singing passerine birds, with whom 

 they are seen flitting from branch to branch in early spring, and they 

 are therefore introduced into that group, and are placed at the head 

 of the order Insectworm. 



The Great Grey Shrike, (Lanius meridionalis ,J must not be con- 

 founded with the bird of that name in the British lists, L. excubitor 

 of Pennant, to which it is a pity that Yarrell did not restrict the 

 name of Grey or Cinereous or Ash-coloured Shrike, given to it by 

 various authors. 



Temminck, however, in the second edition of his "Manual," states 

 his opinion that the three European Shrikes known as L. excuhitor, 

 L. meridionalis, and L. minor, are only races or permanent varieties 

 produced by climatric agency. I will quote his exact words, as the 

 subject is one of great interest. In the third edition he does not 

 say anything contrary to this opinion, but he gives an additional 

 distinction between the two first, namely, the white band above the 

 eyebrows, mentioned in the specific characters above. 



"This Shrike and those known under the names excubitor and 

 minor, seem to form three races or constant varieties, produced by 

 the climate. This one (meridionalis) belongs to the countries of the 



