12 ON THE CLASSIFICATION OF BIRDS. 
representative of the titmice ; and hence it has the crest 
and nearly the same coloured plumage as the generality 
of species composing the genus Parus. This analogy, 
again, is further indicated by the great size of the hind 
toe ; which is so unusually large, as at once to evince 
the climbing habits of the bird, as affirmed by Lewin. 
This is not, however, the only analogy inchcated by the 
colours of the bird ; for if we look to the Bentivi tyrant 
(Saurophagus sulphuratus Sw.), we see a bird in all its 
most striking peculiarities of plumage coloured like that 
of the Falcv,nc,ulus eristatus, with this difference only, — 
that in one the back is olive brown, and in the other 
olive green. Now it is precisely at this point, where, 
according to our theory, the circle of the shrike family 
is closed ; and thus these two genera w'ill stand in juxta- 
position. Certain, however, it is, that of all the tyrants, 
the Bentivi is that which most resembles a true shrike ; 
not so much, perhaps, by its general structure, as by its 
living upon reptiles and even carrion, and thus becoming, 
like the shrikes, both insectivorous and carnivorous. 
(14.) The two other genera comprised in this sub- 
family, are Telophonus and Nilaus ; both of which, like 
those already noticed, are entirely excluded from the New 
World. Telophonus has such a strong resemblance to the 
typical genus Lanius, as w'eU as to Malaconotus, that, 
without a knowledge of the true characters of these 
three groups, an ornithologist may be much perplexed 
in detecting their essential differences. The genus La- 
nius, as already mentioned, is chiefly known in its out- 
ward appearance by its short and strongly toothed bill : 
but there is another character, equally important, which 
all writers have hitherto overlooked ; this is to he found 
in tlie equal length of the lateral toes, and the acuteness 
of the claws. Now, this structure of foot is also found, 
with a diminution hardly perceptible, in Telophonus ; 
but then the bill is lengthened, so as to give these birds, 
at the first glance, an appearance of being Mnhcnnnti. 
This union of characters is just what we should expect 
in such birds as were to represent the bush-shrikes in 
