LANIAD^. 



107 



Lanius, Linn. 



Feet strong ; the tarsi con- 

 siderably longer than the hind 

 toe. 



Wings rounded, of mode- 

 rate length. 



Thamnophilus, Vial. 



EXTERNAL ORGANIZATION. 



Feet strong ; the tarsi con- 

 siderably longer than the hind 

 toe ; the two outer toes fre- 

 quently connected at their 

 base. 



Wings rounded, shorter and 

 more feeble than those of La- 

 nius. 



Edolius, Cuv. 



Feet slender, short ; the 

 tarsi scarcely longer than the 

 hind toe. 



Wings lengthened, but the 

 three first quills graduated. 



Food. Carnivorous and 

 insectivorous. 



Solitary, or living only in 

 pairs. 



Watch for their prey from a 

 fixed station. 



Seize their food with their 

 claws *, and devour it at lei- 

 sure when at rest. 



Prey upon small birds, in- 

 sects, and less organized ani- 

 mals. 



HABITS. 



Food. Carnivorous and Food. Insectivorous, 

 insectivorous. 



Solitary, or living only in Social, congregating in 



pairs. large flocks. 



Search for their prey in Search for their food during 



foliage. flight. 



Seize their prey (in all pro- Seize their food with their 



bability) with their bill. bill. 



Prowl in thickets after the 

 eggs and young of other birds, 

 and attack such as are weak 

 or sickly, as well as insects 

 and less organized animals. 



Prey entirely upon bees and 

 small winged insects. 



Now if Lanius be a typical group, we can be at no loss to discover which of 

 these is most related to it by affinity ; more particularly as in the two other divi- 

 sions, namely, the Ceblepyrinae and the Tyranninse, the feet are equally short 

 with those of the Edoliange. But although, from our present imperfect knowledge 

 of these birds, we are still ignorant of the five leading forms, or rather genera, in 

 each of the sub-families of Lanianae, Thamnophilinse, and Edoliana?, still we may 

 compare the contents of the whole family with that of the Merulidae. For as 

 both are unquestionably the typical groups of the Dentirostres, their sub-families, 



* This we have, in one instance, personally witnessed ; and the fact is also confirmed by the observations of our 

 friend Mr. Audubon. 



P 2 



