BUTCHER-BIRDS. 
257 
BUTCHER-BIRDS. (Lanius. Lin.) 
The bill of moderate size, robust, straight from its origin, and 
much compressed, with advancing bristles at the base ; the upper 
mandible rounded abo^e, hooked, and acute at the tip, near to which, 
on either side, there isH small sharp tooth ; the lower notched, and 
also toothed near the tip. Nostrils basal., lateral, almost round, partly 
hidden in the hairs at the base of the bill, and half closed by a vault- 
ed membrane. Feet, with the tarsus longer than the middle toe ; 
the toes entirely divided. Wings moderate, the spurious feather very 
short, and the 3d and 4th primaries longest. — The female and 
young of the American species scarcely differ from the adult male. 
Some others have a partial moult a second time in the year. 
The larger species possess the courage and cruelty of birds of ra- 
pine. Their prey, which they seize and convey in the bill, consists, 
however, principally of large insects; they often also attack small 
birds, for which they commonly lie in wait on the high branches of 
trees ; they hold their victim usually in one foot, and tear it to pieces 
with the bill. They fly precipitately and irregularly to short dis- 
tances and frequently move the tail. They defend their nests from 
the largest birds of prey with dauntless temerity ; live in families ; 
build in trees and bushes, and lay from 5 to 7 eggs. Their voice is 
loud and somewhat musical, and they have a propensity for imitat- 
ing the calls and notes of other birds. — They are found in all parts 
of the world ; but in South America they are principally represented 
by other allied forms. In habit they approach the birds of prey, have 
some relation at the same time to Magpies, and pass almost into the 
Flycatchers, Thrushes, and other small insectivorous birds. 
