8 The Great Gkev Shrike. 



branch of an olive, apple, pear, oak, or fir tree ; it is bulk}', and large as that of 

 a Blackbird, and is formed of twigs, Ijcnts, dead leaves, green grass, and moss; 

 the lining consisting of rootlets, wool, hair, and feathers. The eggs number from 

 five to seven, usually five, and vary from creamy to bluish white, with lighter or 

 darker olivaceous spots aud blotches, frequently forming a well-defined zone just 

 above the middle, and accompanied by lilac-grey shell-markings ; sometimes 

 they form a large patch at one end (usually the larger one). 



Nidification as a rule commences about the middle of May ; incubation lasts 

 fifteen days ; aud, during the rearing of the young, this species is most courageous 

 in their defence, driving away even the Crow-family from the vicinity of its nest. 



Gatke sa3'S : — " This bird, though very cautious in general, is yet not unfre- 

 qnently caught in the throstle bush ; that, however, such a fate is well deserved, 

 is shown by the discovery of many a poor little Redbreast with its brains hacked 

 out, the work of this ruthless aggressor. I have even on one occasion seen a 

 Blackbird, as it was hastening along over the grass, pounced upon by one of these 

 daring robbers, and succumb, after a short struggle, to the bites of his assailant." 



Lord Lilford says that about the end of December, 1880, he received a fine 

 young bird of this species alive : it had been taken by means of bird-lime near 

 Glendow, on November 19th ; he kept this bird alive for some months. Herr 

 Mathias Rausch (Gefiederte Welt, 1891, p. 475) observes that this bird is not of 

 the slightest value for aviculture as a singer, for although he both mocks well 

 and sings industriously, he, by his call-notes, makes the other singers crazy with 

 anxiety and fear, and thereby disturbs them in their song. " One can only find 

 it caged in the possession of peculiar fanciers, who mostly aim at completeness, in 

 respect of all birds belonging to this category." * 



From a long study of birds in confinement, I should imagine that Herr Rausch 

 speaks here theoretically, and not from experience : if the cry of a Shrike in a 

 cage is calculated to terrify a small song-bird in another cage, surely the small 

 song-birds of South America ought to be alarmed by the cries of the Blue-bearded 

 Jay, or even those of the Sulphur Tyrant ; yet they pay no more heed to them than 

 to the calls of perfectly innocent birds : I believe that predaceous species are 

 recognized by sight, more readily than by their voice. 



I imagine his iiuaiiiuji t" I'l' Hiat tliey kct p all Passcrcs, whcllui iiitticstiiig or not. 



