-yL. 



GREAT GRET SHRIKE.— inures exciWor. 



fowler tlien retires to his own little lint, jDlaccs the strings which draw the net witliin 

 reach of his bird, and watches the Shrike out of a small window which commands the 

 mound where it is perched. Feeling secure that the Shrike will not suffer a hawk to 

 come within sight without giving notice, the fowler takes out his netting or other 

 sedentary work, and continues his labour. 



Hundreds of birds may pass over the net without the Shrike giving the least alarm, 

 but as soon as it can see a falcon, it flutters about, gets uneasy, and at last begins to kick 

 and squall with terroi-. Eoused by the sounds, the fowler jerks some strings com- 

 municating with perches on which living pigeons are perched, and the flutter thus 

 occasioned attract the falcon's attention and induces him to stoop for a prey that appears 

 so easy. As the foe approaches nearer, the Shrike's terror increases, and as the falcon 

 swoops at the pigeons, the ShrilvC screams with fear and runs for shelter under tlie tiny 

 hut. This movement is a signal for the fowler, who draws tlie strings of his net and 

 incloses the falcon as he makes his dart on the pigeons. 



The voice of the Shrike, although sufficiently harsh on occasions, is capable of great 

 modulation, so that the creature can imitate the cries of many bii-ds, and even copy M-ith 

 some success the sweet notes of the songsters. 



The nest of the Grey Shrike is situated in forests, and is placed in the lofty branches 

 of some tall tree. Tlie substances of which it is niad(i are fine grass, roots, mosses, down, 

 and wool. Tlie eggs are from four to six in number, and are bluisli-grey, spotted at the 

 large end with deep grey and brown. The colour of this sj^ecies is pearl-grey on the 

 upper part of the body ; the chin, breast, and abdomen are white ; the quill-feathers of 

 the tail black variegated and tipped with white ; and a black baud crosses the forehead, 



