if arranged in their true series of affinity, should intimately correspond in their
parallel relations of analogy; and such appears to be actually the case in nature,
as will be subsequently shown. In the meantime, the following table will sufficiently
exhibit the typical characters of the leading divisions of the
LANIADiE.
Sub-families.
L anian/b. !
Typical group.
Bill short; a projecting tooth in the upper
mandible ; claws acute.
Typical Genera.
Lanius, Linn.
Thamnophilinæ.'
2. Subtypical group.
Bill lengthened; the tooth less prominent;
tarsi moderately long ; claws more obtuse.
Thamnophilus,
Vieil.
ËDOLIANÆ.
Ceblepyrinæ.
Tyranninæ.
3.
Aberrant group.
Bill moderate; tooth obsolete ; tarsi short.
Ocyptems, Cuv.?
Ceblepyrus, Cuv.
Tyrannus, Bris.
Every one, who has given the least attention to natural affinities, must be fully
aware how intimately the above genera are connected among themselves; and that
even Linnseus long ago arranged the greatest proportion of the species then known
under his genus Lam m . It will subsequently appear that there is good reason to
believe the whole form a circular group ; but on this point positive evidence is
still wanting. Certain it is, that every ornithologist has assimilated the American
Tyrants to the true Shrikes; and we know, from personal observation, that this
affinity is carried still closer, by several species of the former possessing thé carnivorous
habits of the latter, by feeding upon reptiles, and even fish. Still there is
no group or species yet discovered which partakes so much of both as to induce
us to exclaim, “ The circle is closed! ” The hiatus is still, in our opinion, sufficiently
great to admit of at least two intermediate forms. Whether these exist in
the unknown regions of South America, Africa, or Madagascar, where nature has
been lavish of these birds, must be a matter of conjecture; but we feel it is for the
true interests of science that its votaries should dwell upon all such difficulties,
although, in the present case, it may militate against the above disposition of the
groups.
The genera and sub-genera among the
LANIANjE
are few, although the typical group, to which belong the birds hereafter described,
contains many species of great uniformity in structure and economy : their habits
are too well known to require elucidation. The Falcunculus frontalis*, a bird of
New Holland, evidently departs from the type both in organization and habits.
This species,1 according to Lewin, “ frequents thick bushes, and is very active in
tearing off the bark of trees and shrubs in search of insects, particularly hard-
coated beetles f ; ” an economy which is accompanied by a corresponding peculiarity
in the structure of the feet. Tropical America produces another modification
of form in the genus (?) Cyclaris, where the bill, although rather more lengthened,
assimilates to that of Falcunculus; but the wings, feet, and tail assume the
w e a k n e s s of construction so conspicuous in the next sub-family; of its economy
we are in total ignorance, but its whole structure is evidently against the idea of
its possessing the bold and daring habits of the typical Shrikes. In Southern
Africa there is another form, still farther removed from the typical Shrikes, and
which we have distinguished by the name of N ilaus: it is the Lanius capensis of
Linnean writers, and evidently unites the characters both of this sub-family and
the next: the bill, as in the preceding forms, is arched from the base, and its tooth
is well developed ; but, instead of being short and thick, it is slender and much
lengthened ; while the tail is short, weak, and perfectly even ; the back and rump
feathers are thick and soft; but the feet and claws are those of Lanius. Among
the rich zoological collections made by our friend Mr. Burchell, is a form belonging
to this division, which has not yet been made known. We must notice
another, too remarkable to be confounded with either of the preceding: the Lanius
leucogrammicus of Professor Reinwardt J. The general conformation of this bird
* We have very little doubt, when this family is better known, that this group will be found to represent the Scan-
-- sores in its own circle. Naturalists have passed over in silence the remarkable structure of the feet: the hind toe, as
in all scansorial birds, is so much lengthened as to be fully equal to the middle toe.
+ L e w i n ’s Birds of New South Wales, p i. 26 . $ We shall give to this, and to all other groups or forms considered of sufficient importance to be kept in view, a
character and a name, to be employed hereafter as a generic, sub-generic, or sectional distinction, according to the
value they may respectively assume when the natural arrangement of the group to which they may belong has been
made out by analysis. In calling the attention of ornithologists to these minor variations in structure, we formerly
thought it sufficient to designate the group merely by citing the name of the principal species, or by detailing its prominent
characteristics, without laying ourselves open to the imputation of framing more new names than were absolutely
essential. But our delicacy in this instance has been superfluous : not only have these groups been since elevated
to the rank of genera, but no notice has been taken of our previous observations on them. As instances of this, we