498 LANIUS EXCX'BITOR. 



courage and skill, so as to put to flight birds possessed of ten 

 times their strength ; and their affection for their young cor- 

 responds with the ardour of their temper, as appears to be 

 generally the case in animals. After the young come abroad, 

 they remain with their j)arents until the commencement of the 

 pairing season. 



Although individuals have been found with us at all times of 

 the year, it has not been observed to breed in this country. It is 

 not uncommon however in France, where it remains all the year, 

 keeping in summer and autumn generally in the woods, but 

 approaching inhabited places in winter, and thus appearing to 

 be more common at that season. It is found as far south as 

 Spain and Italy, and extends northward to Sweden, Russia, 

 Norway, and Lapland, leaving these countries however at the 

 approach of winter. 



In England, its migrations are very irregular. Messrs Shep- 

 pard and Whitear have, in the Linnasan Transactions, Vol. 

 XV, the following remarks on this subject : — " It has been 

 killed in Suffolk in the months of January, April, May, and 

 September. And on the 9th of July 1816, we saw a female 

 Cinereous Shrike at Baytham in that county, which made a 

 noise like that of a pair of shears clipping a fence. We are 

 informed by the Rev. George Reading Leather, that this bird 

 has been frequently seen in the Hyde near Bury (a large wood 

 on the estate of Sir Thomas Gage), and that he has received a 

 specimen shot there. In the autumn of 1819, four of these 

 birds were sent to Mr Hunt, which had been killed in Norfolk. 

 Early in December 1819, a Cinereous Shrike frequented a 

 thick thorn hedge, near Mr Hoy^s house in Higham, but was 

 so shy that it could not be approached within gunshot. On 

 examining the hedge Mr Hoy found three frogs, and as many 

 mice, spitted on the thorns. He therefore set six very small 

 steel traps, each baited with a mouse. On the following day 

 two of the traps were found sprung, and the bait gone. By 

 watching in concealment, Mr Hoy soon afterwards observed 

 the shrike to dart down to a bait, and rise perpendicularly, but 

 not quick enough to escape, as it was caught by two of its toes. 

 The bird was carried alive to the house, and placed in a room, 



