GREAT AMERICAN SHRIKE. 105 



wires of the cage when interrupted. It is a grace- 

 ful and active bird, and the color of its plumage is 

 chaste and finely contrasted ; it has also some very 

 pleasant warbling notes, will imitate the notes of 

 other birds ; the female also sings. They are very 

 amusing birds in a cage, and if some sharp sticks, 

 made like thorns, are fastened inside of the cage, 

 and live mice or insects are put in, they will, after 

 killing them, impale them all round on the sticks. 

 They have, in Europe, one of the same genus 

 very closely allied to this species, but not now 

 identified with it. The only difference is a little 

 more white on the wing, and its being one inch 

 less in length. They are there kept in cages, 

 and are great favorites. They are caught by 

 placing a bird and cage in a box trap, which is 

 so constructed that as soon as he touches the 

 cage the trap closes and shuts him up in dark- 

 ness, from which he is immediately taken and 

 transferred to another cage. 



FOOD. This bird, when caught, even when 

 old, can be easily used to the cage by giving it live 

 mice or insects, and leaving him alone, as at first; 

 he will not eat, as long as you stand by. He will 

 very soon get tame, and thrive well upon meal 

 and milk, and a bit of fresh beef; gravel in the 



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