SHRIKES. 
457 
The frontal shrike-tit of which we give a figure is a bird of great animation 
and sprightliness; its chief food consisting of insects, which are obtained either 
among the foliage of trees or under the bark of the larger branches and trunks. In 
procuring them, the bird exhibits great dexterity, stripjDing off the bark in the most 
determined manner, for which purpose its powerful bill is admirably adapted. 
Whilst searching the branches for food, it frequently erects its crest and assumes 
many pert and lively positions; and no bird of its size possesses greater strength 
in its mandibles, or is capable of inflicting more severe wounds. Its song- 
consists only of a few piping notes. The male has the crest pure black, the sides 
FRONTAL SHRIKE-TIT (f nat. size). 
of the head white, divided by a black line, the back, shoulders, and wing-coverts 
olive, the primaries, secondaries, and tail blackish brown margined with grey, the 
two outer tail-feathers and the tips of the remainder being white; while the 
throat is black, and the under-parts are bright yellow. 
The true shrikes (Lanius) have the large compressed bill, hooked 
Ti*U 6 Shrikes ^ ^ 
and toothed, and thus adapted to enable them to tear the flesh 
of the small mammals and birds upon which they often prey. The wings are 
moderate in length but comparatively powerful, the tail is general^ much longer 
