SHRIKE. PASSERES. LANIUS. 139 
ceive that purposes of science may be equally promoted by in- 
cludmg the two divisions under one order; particularly as 
the gradations of character from one to the other are both 
easy and progressive. 
The Characters of the Order are as above recited. 
DIVISION Tf. 
Bill rather slender, and of mean lengih, straight, the up- 
per mandible deflected at the tip, and emarginated. Feet 
with three toes before, and one behind ; the outer toe joined 
at its base to the middle one. Chiefly insectivorous, or fru- 
givorous. 
Genus XXII. SHRIKE. LANIUS, Linz. 
GENERIC CHARACTERS. 
Bill rather thick, straight at the base, compressed, upper 
mandible considerably deflected at the point, and strongly 
emarginated. Base of the bill beset with hairy feathers di- 
rected forwards. Nostrils basal, lateral, and egg-shaped, 
partly closed by an arched membrane. Feet with three toes 
before, and one behind; the outer toe united at its base to 
the middle one. Tarsus longer than the middle toe. Wings 
having the first quill short; the second less than the third 
and fourth, which are the longest in each wing. 
At the time the Plates which accompany this work were 
first published, I was doubtful in which order the Lani 
should stand, as Linnzxus had associated them with the Ac- 
cipitres, aud Laruam and other authors had placed them at 
the head of the Pice. A more intimate knowledge of the 
habits of the genus (which in so many points are similar to 
those of other genera comprised in this Order), in addition 
to the forcible reasons advanced by Mons. 'TEmminck, have 
