160 GREAT GREY SHRIKE. 
Tue Shrikes, which form the first genus of Tem- 
minck’s third order, Jnsectivores, are a well-marked 
group, feeding almost, if not entirely, upon insects. 
They were originally classed by Linneus in his first 
edition of the “Systema Nature,” published in 1735, 
among the Falcons, but he subsequently formed them 
into the distinct genus Lanius, still keepmg them 
among the Acczpitres, or Birds of Prey. They were, 
however, separated from this last class by Ilhger and 
Cuvier. ‘Temminck, in the first edition of his ‘ Manual,” 
placed them directly after his order Rapaces; but as he 
justly observes their manners and habits are so similar 
to those of the great group comprised in his Jnsectivores, 
that in his second edition in 1820 he placed them at 
the head of that order. Schlegel places the Swallows 
between the Raptores and the Lanide. Swainson 
classes them directly after the Raptores, while Bonaparte 
separates them from that order by no less than twelve 
families, including the Mirundimde, Sylviade, Paride, 
Merulide, etc. 
The limits of this book will not allow me to enter 
at length into the various reasons assigned for these 
different generic positions. Temminck, however, did 
not form his arrangement upon one or two peculiar 
characteristics; he took a masterly view of the various 
groups of birds, and he assigned to them the position 
they hold in his classification, according to their 
natural affinities. Thus the Sturnide are insect feeders 
and have a musical note, but in thei habits they 
assimilate with the Crows, and he therefore excluded 
them from the IJnsectivores, and placed them with the 
Rollers, the Chatterers, the Orioles, and the Pastors, in 
the Ommnivores. But the habits of the Shrikes are 
altogether those of our singing passerine birds, with 
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