SHRIKES. 175 



of the trap caught his claws and secured him by two of 

 the toes. The bird was put in a room, in which a thorn- 

 bush was placed, and some dead mice provided, one of 

 which he was soon observed to seize, and spit on a thorn 

 with the greatest quickness and dexterity*. 



That one of the reasons for thus transfixing their prey 

 is for the purpose of more conveniently feeding on it, 

 there can be no doubt ; for if confined in a cage, they 

 evince a similar propensity, and if not provided with a 

 thorn, will invariably fasten it to the wires before com- 

 mencing their repast. It has however been suggested, 

 that as the quantity destroyed, particularly of insects, 

 so far surpasses the wants of the destroyer, they may be 

 placed on the thorns as baits. This seems to be a pre- 

 vailing opinion in America, where one species of this 

 bird, called the Nine-killer, is very abundant, for on 

 spots frequented by it, the thorn-bushes may be seen 

 furnished on the naked thorns with grasshoppers, trans- 

 fixed precisely in the same manner ; all regularly, and 

 in their natural position as when on the ground, not one 

 of them having his back downwards. After the frost 

 sets in, there they still remain unconsumed ; the Shrikes, 

 at the same time, watching the smaller birds, and catch- 

 ing them near these hedges. 



Of the two sorts visiting England, one only, we be- 

 lieve, breeds here, namely, the Red-backed Shrike. 

 (Lanius collurio). It is one of our latest birds of pas- 

 sage, probably coming from a great distance, as it is 

 found in the southern part of Africa, as well as South 

 America, and also probably because the insects it prefers 

 are not abundant till late in the spring-season. There 

 is another peculiarity worthy of notice ; that it is, gene- 

 rally speaking, very rare in most parts, confining itself 

 to particular districts ; such as parts of Essex, the Sus- 

 sex downs, Wiltshire, and Gloucestershire, where it is by 

 no means uncommon. May not this be attributed to 

 something in the soil, or other local causes favourable to 



* Lin. Trans., vol. xv. 



