Class. They are distinguished as an Order by possessing the
largest volume of brain in proportion to their size, and a corresponding
degree of intelligence ; the vocal organs present
the highest degree of perfection to be found in the class, and
several of the species are capable of imitating the sounds of
the human voice : by the perfection of the foot it is adapted
to the greatest variety of purposes, and the hind toe is always
present, and always articulated on the same level or plane
with the fore-toes. I am indebted to Mr. Macleay for the
knowledge of another character: the young of all the Insesso-
rial Birds are hatched naked, not then exhibiting those filaments
of down which precede the first feathers.
The birds included in this order are again divided; and
those now about to be described belong to the division or
tribe called D entirostres, on account of the distinct tooth
or notch near the extremity of one or both of the mandibles,
analagous to the tooth, festoon, or depression observed in
most of the R aptores, already described : and the habits of
the species of the family placed at the commencement of the
present series will immediately indicate the resemblance they
bear to the Raptorial character of the Order of Birds which
is just concluded.
The Great Grey Shrike, the largest of the British species
of the genus Lanius, is only an occasional visitor to this
country, and is generally obtained between autumn and
spring. On two occasions it has been seen in Essex durino-
summer, by observers who know this bird well; and also in
Burnt-ash Lane, near Lee in Kent, by Mr. Gray; yet it has
not, that I am aware, been ever known to breed here,—though
the large size of the nest and the variable colour and markings
of the eggs of the Red-backed Shrike have in some
instances led to the belief that they belonged to the Great
Shrike. A pair of Grey Shrikes were frequently seen together
in a fir plantation in Northumberland in the spring of
1831 ; but on search being made later in the season, neither
the birds nor any nest could be found, and by far the greater
number of British killed specimens have been obtained during
the winter season.
The Grey Shrike feeds upon mice, shrews, small birds,
frogs, lizards, and large insects. After having killed its prey,
it fixes the body in a forked branch, or upon a sharp thorn,
the more readily to tear off small pieces from it. It is from
this habit of killing and hanging up their meat, which is observed
also in other Shrikes, that they have been generally
called Butcher Birds. Part of a letter from my friend Mr.
Henry Doubleday of Epping, in reference to the Grey
Shrike, is as follows : “ An old bird of this species, taken
near Norwich in October 1835, lived in my possession twelve
months. It became very tame, and would readily take its
food from my hands. When a bird was given it, it invariably
broke the skull, and generally ate the head first.^ It
sometimes held the bird in its claws, and pulled it to pieces
in the manner of Hawks,—but seemed to prefer forcing part
of it through the wires, then pulling at it. It always hung
what it could not eat up on the sides of the cage. It would
often eat three small birds in a day. In the spring it was
very noisy, one of its notes a little resembling the cry of the
Kestrel.'” Mr. Selby, who has seen the Grey Shrike when
alive in its wild state, says, “ its flight is interrupted, being
performed by jerks ; and when perched, the tail is kept m
constant motion.” I t has considerable power of voice, and
sufficient flexibility to enable it to imitate the notes of some
of the smaller birds ; and this power it is said to exercise as a
decoy, the more easily to obtain food by deceiving small
birds. A writer in the Naturalist, says, “ My first acquaintance
with the Butcher Bird was occasioned by hearing notes
not entirely familiar to me, though much resembling those of
the Stonechat. Following the sound, I soon discovered the