MERULIDA. AND LANIADA: — ANALOGIES. 35 
Lantus CAROLINENSIS, Wilson. ORPHEUS POLYGLOTTUS, Sw. 
Loggerheaded Shrike. American Mocking-bird. 
Shrikes and rapacious birds always Mr. Bartrum writes, ‘‘ I have ob. 
disgorge the undigested parts of their served that the mocking-bird ejects 
food in round pellets. from his stomach, through his 
mouth, the hard kernels of berries, 
&c,, retaining the pulpy part.— 
. Wilson, vol. ii. p. 25. 
In Georgia, according to Mr. 
Abbot, the Carolina shrike is known 
by the name of bigheaded mocking- 
bird.””— Latham, General History, 
vol. ii. p. 7. 
(37.) It seems impossible to conceive in what way 
this most extraordinary resemblance can be rendered 
more complete. Here are two birds, —typical ex- 
amples of two distinct groups, — birds of the same size, 
— clothed in nearly the same coloured plumage, — seek- 
ing the same kind of food, — agreeing in the structure 
of their wings and tail (almost in their feet), — build- 
ing the same kind of nest, and in similar situations, — 
imitating the notes of other birds, — ejecting their un. 
serviceable food in the same manner,—and, finally, called 
almost by the same name, — and yet totally distinct in 
real affinity. Well may we exclaim, ‘‘ Wonderful are 
tay works, O Lord! for they are full of wisdom.” If 
such astonishing relations become apparent on gaining 
an imperfect glimpse of nis system, how inconceivably 
sublime must be the whole! A glance at the bills of 
these two birds is sufficient to show their real distinc- 
tions ; yet, were this organ concealed, few, even among 
naturalists, would detect their difference. 
(38.) But to proceed to the other comparisons. The 
analogy between the bush-shrikes ( Thamnophiline) 
and the ant-thrushes (Myotherine), as we have already 
seen, blends into an absolute affinity ; while the two fa- 
milies are also united by the drongo shrikes (Dicru- 
‘rian@), passing into the short-legged thrushes (Bra- 
chypoding), in the manner we have before explained. 
The resemblance between the orioles (Orioling) and 
the caterpillar-catching shrikes (Ceblepyrine) is to the 
full as strong. Both have long but obliquely rounded 
wings — short feet and tails—a bill broad at the base 
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