MERULID-®. AND LANIADiE — ANALOGIES. 
S5 
T.ftM tttK Carolinensis, Wilson, Orpheus polyglottus, Sw. 
Loggerheaded Shrike. American Mocking-bird. 
Shrikes and rapacious birds always Mr. Bartrum writes, “ I have ob- 
disgorge the undigested parts of their served that the mocking-bird ejects 
food in round pellets. from his stomach, through his 
mouth, the hard kernels of berries, 
&c., retaining the pulpy part. — 
fVilsoTit vol. ii. p. 25. 
In Georgia, according to Mr. 
Abbot, the Carolina shrike is known 
by the name of bigheadetl mocking- 
bird.”— LafAam, General Ilktoryt 
voL ii. p. 7. 
( 37 .) It seems impossible to conceive in what way 
this most extraordinary resemblance can be rendered 
more complete. Here are two birds, — typical ex. 
amples of two distinct groups, — birds of the same size, 
— ■ clothed in nearly the same coloured plumage, — seek- 
ing the same kind of food, — agreeing in the structure 
of their wings and tail (almost in their feet), — build- 
ing the same kind of nest, and in similar situations, — 
imitating the notes of other birds, — ejecting their un- 
serviceable food in the same manner, — and, finally, called 
almost by the same name, — and yet totally distinct in 
mal affinity. Well may we exclaim, “ Wonderful are 
Thy works, O Lord ! for they are full of wisdom.” If 
snch astonishing relations become apparent on gaining 
imperfect glimpse of his system, how inconceivably 
sublime must be the whole ! A glance at the bills of 
these two birds is sufl[icient to show their real distinc- 
tions ; yet, were this organ concealed, few, even among 
ttaturalists, would detect their difference. 
(38.) But to proceed to the other comparisons. The 
analogy between the bush-shrikes (^ThamnophilhuB) 
and the ant-thrushes {Myotherina:), as we have already 
aaen, blends into an absolute affinity ; while the two fa- 
milies are also united by the drongo shrikes (Dicru- 
’^a.nai), passing into the short-legged thrushes (Brn- 
^ypodirus), in the manner we have before explained. 
he resemblance between the orioles (^Oriolines') and 
fhe caterpillar.catching shrikes {Ceblepyrma) is to the 
'fil as strong. Both have long hut obliquely rounded 
Wings — short feet and tails — a bill broad at the base 
D 2 
