LANIIDJE — LANIIN^: SHBIKES. 
337 
feeding on insects and such small birds and quadrupeds as they can capture and overpower ; 
many instances have been noted of their dashing attacks upon cage-birds, and their reckless 
pursuit of other species under circumstances that cost them their own lives. But the most 
remarkable fact in the natural history of the shrikes is their singular and inexplicable habit of 
impaling their prey on thorns or sharp twigs, and leaving it sticking there. This has occa- 
sioned many ingenious surmises, none of which, however, are entirely satisfactory. They 
build a rather rude and bulky nest of twigs, and lay 4-G speckled eggs. They are not strictly 
migratory, although our northernmost species usually retires southward in the fall. The sexes 
are alike, and the young differ but little. There are only two well determined American 
species, of nine that compose the genus. 
60. LA'NIUS. (Lat. lanius, a butcher.) Gray Shrikes. Wing of 10 primaries, and tail of 
12 rectrices, both rounded in shape, and of nearly equal lengths. Point of the wing formed by 
the 3d, 4th, and 5th quills, the second not longer than the Gth, and the 1st about half as long 
as the 3d. Tarsus equalling or slightly exceeding in length the middle toe and claw, strongly 
scutellate in front, and Mdth the outer lateral plate usually more or less subdivided, as is unusual 
among Oscines. Lateral toes of about equal lengths, their claws reaching to the base of the 
middle claw ; inner toe cleft nearly to the base, the outer more extensively c(»herent with the 
basal joint of the middle toe. Feet large and strong, but without specially ''raptorial" 
development either of the digits or of their claws. Bill large and powerful, compressed, deep, 
comphitely notched and toothed, and strongly hooked, presenting the full accomplishment of a 
raptorial character. Rictus ample and deeply cleft, and strongly bristled ; gonys short, only 
about half the length of the lower mandible. Nostrils circular or nearly so, placed well forward 
in the nasal fossae, more or less perfectly overhung and concealed by tufts of antrorse bristly 
feathers. Body stout ; neck short; head relatively large. Coloration simple, the black, white, 
and bluish or grayish tints being unrelieved by red or other bright color. In the amount of 
the dusky vermiculation of the under parts the species are graded from horealis (most) to excu- 
hitorides (least or none), and each one is graded from young to old. In all, the general resem- 
blance to a mocking-bird is striking. 
Analysis of Species. 
Large : length 9.00 or over. Black head-stripe broken on under eyelid and across forehead. Always waved 
below with dusky boreaJis 186 
Small : length under 9.00. Black head-stripe unbroken across forehead : no white on under eyelid. Adults 
unwaved below. 
Lighter : much white on rump and scapulars ; long white patch on primaries . . . excubitorides 188 
Darker : little white on rump and scapulars ; short white patch on primaries . . . ludovicianus 187 
186. L. borealis. (Lat. horealis, northern. Figs. 203, 204.) Great Northern Shrike. 
Butcher-bird. ^ 9 j adult : Above, clear bluish-ash, blanching on rump and scapulars ; 
below, white, always vermiculated trans- 
versely with fine wavy blackish lines; a 
broad black bar along side of head, not 
meeting its fellow across forehead, inter- 
rupted by a white crescent on under eyelid, 
and bordered above by hoary white that 
also occupies the extreme forehead ; mngs 
and tail black, the former with a large 
white spot near base of the primaries, 
and white tips of most of the quills, the 
latter with the outer web of the outer 
feather edged, and all the feathers except- Fio. 204. — Butcher-bird (L. horealis), nat. size. (Ad 
ing the middle pair broadly tipped, with ^- ^-^ 
white, and with concealed white bases ; bill and feet bluish-black ; eyes blackish. Length 
22 
