EXCURTRICES. 
89 
I exclusively, we find some which, graduating into the series 
|l of Walking Birds, are in a manner intermediate. Of this 
kind are the Shrikes, Flycatchers, various other families, of 
! which we have no representatives in Britain, and perhaps 
i the Boilers. The Shrikes are in some respects closely allied 
I to the Hawks, in others to the Thrushes, while they are also 
intimately connected with the Flycatchers, which are akin 
j! to the Swallows. 
I; ORDER V. EXCURTRICES. SNATCHERS. 
Body ovate, compact ; neck short ; head rather large, 
ovate. Bill short or of moderate length, broad at the 
base, compressed at the end ; upper mandible with a 
small decurved tip, behind which on either side are a 
I sinus or notch, and a tooth-like process, which is often 
very prominent. Tongue narrow, flat, emarginate, and 
papillate at the base, thin-edged, with the point slit, or 
lacerated ; oesophagus wide, without crop ; stomach ellip- 
i tical, moderately muscular, having two distinct lateral 
muscles, its epithelium dense and rugous ; intestine short 
and wide ; coeca very small. Trachea cylindrical, the 
I inferior larynx with four pairs of muscles. Legs very 
I short arid small, or moderate ; tarsus much compressed, 
with about seven scutella ; toes four, slender, compressed ; 
the first stouter, and with its claw nearly as long as the 
third, which is united to the second at the base, the late- 
ral toes nearly equal ; claws rather long, curved or arched, 
much compressed, laterally grooved, very acute. Plumage 
soft, generally blended ; wings rather long, rounded, of 
eighteen quills, the first very small, the third and fourth 
longest ; tail of twelve feathers. 
