SHRIKES. 171 



cases tnere is a resemblance. In fact, the more we 

 examine the arrangements of nature in its orders of 

 created beings, whether in animals, birds, fishes, or insects, 

 the more shall we be struck with the beautiful connexion 

 between the several classes, into which they are divided, 

 and the utter impossibility of drawing up rules which 

 shall, without exceptions, accurately define the marks of 

 distinction. The works of God, in short, whether in the 

 animal, vegetable, or mineral world, may be likened to 



The letting down a golden chain from high ; 



a chain of innumerable uninterrupted links, visible to us 

 only in the intermediate portions, and each attesting the 

 wisdom and power of its great Contriver. Thus, in the 

 subject under our immediate consideration, we find that 

 from the gigantic Condor or great Vulture of the Alps, 

 to the small Humming bird, not exceeding in size a 

 humble bee, there is a regular scale ; that one class and 

 family slides imperceptibly into another, till the most 

 intelligent naturalist feels himself at a loss to define 

 accurately, where the one ends, and the other begins. 

 Of this we have an example, in the link connecting the 

 Eagle, Hawk, and Owl tribes with the first of the numer- 

 ous families which remain for consideration. This link 

 consists of a small but interesting division, called the 

 Shrikes. (Table VII., see page 12.) As many of them 

 live chiefly, if not 

 entirely, on bee- 

 tles, grasshoppers, 

 &c., they have 

 been considered 

 as the Falcons of 

 the insect world, 

 pursuing and de- 

 stroying vast 

 numbers of those 

 countless multi- shrike. 



tudes that swarm in hot climates ; and have also been 

 named Butcher-birds, from a fierceness and cruelty of 



