BIRDS OF NORTH AND MIDDLE AMERICA. 233 



eighth to sixth primaries longest. Tail nearly as long as wing, often 

 longer, sometimes much longer, rounded, graduated, or nearly even, 

 never emarginate nor forked; rectrices twelve. Plumage soft, blended, 

 the head never crested, though feathers of the pileum are sometimes 

 rather longer than usual. 



Coloration. — Plumage never with brilliant colors," but with plain 

 gray, brown or rufous predominating, varied with black and white or 

 pale vinaceous; sexes usually alike in color; young with the plumage 

 always more or less distinctly barred or transversely vermiculated or 

 undulated. 



Range. — Northern hemisphere in general, but in the western not 

 south of Mexico; rather numerously represented in the Old World, 

 only one genus and two species occurring in America. 



The above diagnosis covers the group of true Shrikes, consisting of 

 the genus Lanius and two or three related genera, equivalent to 

 Gadow's "Subfamily Laniinse,"* to which the term Laniidaj maj% for 

 present purposes at least, be properly restricted, since there is very 

 great doubt whether the remaining groups comprising Dr. Gadow's 

 Laniidse (Gymnorhininee, Malaconotinee, Pachycephalinse, and Vireo- 

 ninse) can,- any of them, be properly included in the same family; and 

 this is equally if not even more true of the Artamidse, Campephagidse, 

 Dicruridse, and Prionopidse, by some authors also included in the 

 Laniidse. 



As here restricted, the Laniidse constitute a fairly well-defined 

 group, peculiar to the Nearctic, Palsearctic, Indian, and African 

 Regions, but only sparingly represented in the first-named, which 

 possesses but a single genus, with only two species, while in the East- 

 ern Hemisphere four genera and about fifty species are recognized. 



Taking the genus Lanius as the most typical example of the family, 

 it may be stated that the shrikes are peculiar in several of their habits, 

 especially in their practice of impaling insects, small birds, and small 

 mammals upon thorns. The purpose of this curious habit is not 

 known with certainty; but .the most plausible explanation seems to be 

 that suggested by Mr. Seebohm," which is that the shrike, not having 

 sufficiently powerful feet to hold its prey while it is being torn to pieces, 

 therefore avails itself of the aid of a thorn (or, in some case, a crotch) 

 to hold its food while it is being eaten. This does not, however, 

 explain why the shrike's victims are so often found in such positions 

 unmutilated, as if placed there for future use or from mere wantonness. 



The food of shrikes consists of the larger insects (grasshoppers, 



« At least not in the typical members of the group, though the species of an African 

 genus {Lanmriua) usually, and perhaps correctly, referred to this family are very 

 brightly colored birds. 



6 Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., viii, 1883, pp. 89, 228. 



« History of British Birds and their Eggs, vol. i, p. 594. 



