92 
■LANIIN^. LANIUS. 
moderate widtli, without crop or dilatation ; proventriculus 
oblong ; stomach elliptical, moderately muscular ; its epithe- ^ 
lium thin, dense, and rugous; intestine short; cceca very * 
small, and cylindrical ; cloaca oblong. Nostrils rather small, ,| 
roundish, in the fore part of the moderately large nasal II 
sinus, which is covered with bristly feathers directed for- i 
wards. Eyes of moderate size. Aperture of ear roundish, 
and rather large. Body compact ; neck short ; head large, 
ovate. Legs rather short, and of moderate strength ; tarsus ; 
rather slender, compressed, with seven anterior seutella, , 
sharp behind ; toes rather small, much compressed, the outer 
and middle united as far as the second joint, the first stout 
and long, the lateral nearly equal ; claws rather long, arched, , 
much compressed, laterally grooved, extremely acute. Plu- 
mage soft and blended, the feathers ovate ; stiffish basirostral 1! 
bristles ; wings of moderate length, broad, rather rounded ; ;| 
tail long, straight, rounded, of twelve rather narrow feathers, .j 
The Shrikes are remarkable for their direct affinity to the i 
Falconinse, exhibited by the structure of their bill, and their |r 
rapacious habits, most of the larger species killing small 1 
birds, mice, and reptiles, as well as insects, on which latter r 
the smaller species chiefly feed. They are generally unsocial, , 
tyrannical, and courageous birds, with a harsh, screamy ’ 
voice, and undulating flight. They seldom alight on the s 
ground, but assume a station on a twig, or other perch, , 
whence they sally in pursuit of their prey, or search for it i 
along the thickets and hedges, hovering like hawks. The s 
larger insects they usually impale on a thorn, or fix in the 
fork of a branch. They form an elaborate hemispherical I 
nest, and lay from four to eight spotted eggs. The young, , 
at first blind and bare, remain until able to fly. 
41 . Lanius Excubitoh. Great Cinereous Shrike. 
Male with the upper parts light ash-grey, the lower white ; 
on the side of the head from the nasal membrane to behind 
the ear, a broad black band, margined above with white ; 
quills brownish-black, their bases white, forming two patches 
of that colour when the wing is closed ; terminal portion of 
outer scapulars, and tips of all the quills excepting the outer 
five, white ; tail black, the feathers white at both extremities, 
