ON THE CLASSIFICATION OF BIRDS. 
Si 
(^36.) By comparing the family of the thrushes with 
that of the shrikes, we shall see with what beautiful re- 
gularity nature has proceeded in typifying one in the 
other ; each contains five divisions, or subfamilies, 
mutually represented in the following manner: — 
Subfamilies of 
Laniad£. 
Laniana. 
Thamnopkiliiiue. 
Dicrurirue. 
CeUepyriiKB. 
TyrannincE. 
Analogic^, 
Bill gradually arched. 
BUI straight, abruptly hooked. 
Feet short ; hind toe lengthened, 
r Mouth smooth ; rump feathers thick 
subspiiiousy or rigid. 
Subfamilies of 
MERUL 1 D& 
Mervlina. 
Myotherintc. 
Brachypodince. 
■ Oriolinee. 
Tail very broad ; mouth bristled ; 7 Cydieropodina . 
live in the vicinity of water. j 
The first analogy of this table, or that between the 
true shrikes (Lanfanrp) and the typical thrushes (il/cru* 
at first sight appears not only remote, but even 
questionable : it is, nevertheless, one of the most extra- 
ordinary and most beautiful throughout creation. Let 
us take a typical example of each group, and compare 
their form, colour, habits, and economy, as described by 
authors who have given us their unbiassed testimony, 
totally ignorant of the use we should make of it. One 
of these birds is the Lanius CarolinmsxB of Wilson, the 
other the American motk’h\TAi^OrpheusFolyglottu 8 Sw.). 
The words in Italics alone denote their respective 
differences. 
Lanius Carolinensis Wilson. 
Luggerbeaded Shrike. 
Bill arched from the base, shorts 
mouth bearded. 
Colour above grey, beneath white ; 
ears blade ; wings obliquely rounded, 
black, the quills with a white band 
at their base ; tail black, graduated, 
tipt with white. , ^ ^ 
♦< Makes its nest in a detacnea 
hush in the manner of the mocking- 
birds.” JVilson, American Ornitho- 
^^^eeds^'ou ' crickets and grasshop- 
pers. — W'V/sw, p. 57, ^ , 
The cinereous and red-backed 
shrikes imitate the notes of other 
Lalhanii General History ^ 
voL Si. p. 12. 
Orpheus poLVGLtrrrus Sw. 
American Mocking-bird. 
Bill arched from the base, longer ; 
mouth bearded. 
Colour above grey, beneath white ; 
wings obliquely rounded; wings and 
tail of the same structure and colour 
as those of Lanius Carolitiensis. 
** Feeds upon winged insects, 
fruits, and grasshoppers. — Wilson. 
The raocKiiig-bird is well known 
to imitate the notes of all others. 
