46 SHRIKE. 



42— BLUE SHRIKE. 



Lanius bicolor, Ind. Orn. i. 75. Lin. Mant. 1771; 524- Gm. Lin. i. 305. Sham's Zool. 



vii. 522. Nat. Misc. pi. 521. 

 Loxia madagasearina, Lin. i. 306. 



Lanius madag. coerul. Bris. ii. 197. t. 16. 3. Id. 8vo. i. 212. Gm'n. t.60. 1. 

 Pse-griesche bleue de Madag. Pl.enl.298. 1. Levail. Ois.'u. 91. pi. 73. 1. 2. male and 



female, f. 3. young bird. 

 Blue Shrike, Gen. Syn. i. 178. 



LENGTH six inches and a half. Bill blue, at the base bristly ; 

 feathers round the bill black; head, and all above fine blue; beneath 

 snow white ; quills black, edged with blue ; the two middle feathers 

 of the tail blue, with black tips and shafts, the four next on each 

 side blue on the outer margins, within and tips black ; the outmost 

 feather black, except just at the base, where it is blue on the outer 

 edge ; legs black. 



The female scarcely differs in colour, but is less bright, and the 

 under parts dirty white. 



The young bird is dull green above, and white beneath, but 

 not pure, being inclined to grey. 



Inhabits Madagascar, as well as the Cape of Good Hope ; lives 

 chiefly, if not wholly, on insects, and is a most wild species, 

 especially the male, which is seen frequently on the tops of bushes, 

 flitting from one to another, when disturbed ; the nest and eggs 

 are unknown. 



