SHRIKES AND DAWS. gt 
manifest to the most careless of observers. In this 
respect, indeed, the shrike is even more foolish than 
the blackbird ; for, whereas the latter bird flies away 
from its nest while uttering its cry of alarm, the shrike 
remains therein, or at any rate in the immediate 
neighbourhood, and so throws away its last chance 
of escaping observation. 
The nest itself is a rather bulky object, and is 
placed either in a hedge or a thick bush, generally 
in such a manner that it can be seen by every passer- 
by. Ihave even found a nest of this bird in a dead 
bramble bush, scarcely two feet in height, where it 
could hardly escape observation. Shrikes, indeed, 
seem utterly devoid of caution, and have only them- 
selves to blame for the frequency with which their 
homes are despoiled of their contents. The eggs are 
four or five in number, and vary so greatly that it is 
impossible to write a description which may apply to 
all. Even the ground tint is by no means constant, 
and yet the egg has an individuality of its own, and 
can hardly be mistaken for that of any other bird. 
Few people have a good word for the Jay, a bird 
which is terribly persecuted by farmers and game- 
keepers, and which yet by no means merits the 
obloquy so commonly bestowed on it. To this 
Prévost-Paradol bears witness in the following ac- 
count of its diet :— 
“January, grubs of cockchafers, acorns, and berries ; 
February, chrysalids and different grains and seeds ; 
March, grubs, insects, wheat, and barley; April, 
H 
