BLUE SHRIKE. 



l^anius bicolor. L. cauda subcequali, supra caruleus subtus albus, 



capistro nigra . Lin. Mantiss. 1771. 

 Blue Shrike white beneath, with black frontlet and nearly even 



tail. 



Blue Shrike. Lath. syn. 



lii Pie-grieche bleue. Levaill, ois. 



This species is described by Brisson under the 

 name of Pie-gri6che bleue de Madagascar, and 

 figured on pi. 298 of the Planches Enlumin6es. 

 Monsr. Levaillant however observes that the figure 

 is not conducted v^ith sufficient elegance either in 

 point of shape or colours. Its size is nearly equal 

 to that of the Lanius Collurio : the head and v^hole 

 upper parts are of a beautiful ultramarine bluej 

 except the tips of the wings and that of the tail, 

 which are blackish: the plumes about the base of 

 the bill and between the bill and eyes are velvet- 

 black: all the under parts of the bird are pure 

 white: the eyes are brown; the bill and legs black. 

 The female is rather smaller than the male and of 

 less brilliant colours, the blue having a greenish 

 tinge on the rump, and the under parts of the bird 

 having a cinereous cast. In its young state this 

 species is of a dull green above, and cinereous be- 

 neath. It is a native of the inland parts of Africa, 

 and of the island of Madagascar, and, according 

 to Levcullant, feeds entirely on insects. It is re- 

 markable that the Count de BufTon, endeavouring 

 to simpliiy as much as possible the history of this 



