SHRIKES. 179 



tant ; on its closer approach, he retreats under the turf, 

 and quite conceals himself. It is then the falconer draws 

 out the Pigeons where the nets are fixed, which, flutter- 

 ing round, generally tempt the Hawk to make a stoop at 

 one of them, which if he takes, he is inevitably ensnared. 

 While the Hawk is near, the Skrike continues in, his 

 hiding-place, hardly daring to show his head at the en- 

 trance of his retreat : should the Hawk be taken, or pass 

 over without touching the Pigeons, he cautiously creeps 

 out, yet almost afraid to trust himself on his hillock, 

 looking on every side, and does not for some time reco- 

 ver from his alarm. There is one Hawk, the Goshawk, 

 of which he is particularly afraid, screaming louder than 

 ever, and making every attempt to escape, as if awaro 

 that this Hawk will even seize him in his hiding-place, 

 should it catch sight of him, which the other Hawks will 

 not do. He, on the other hand, shows less alarm at the 

 sight of the Kite or Buzzard, unless very near indeed ; 

 so that, by the motion of the Butcher-bird, the falconer 

 can tell, almost to a certainty, what species of Hawk is 

 approaching, without running the risk of discovery, by 

 looking out from his retreat. Were it not for the pene- 

 trating and keen eye of this his watch-bird, he would sit 

 many dreary hours to no purpose, as he would not know 

 when to pull the Pigeons out to lure the Hawk. Like 

 most other birds, they appear constant to particular spots 

 for breeding. 



A bird-collector, in the island of Anglesea, mentioned 

 his having, for many seasons, found a few in, or near, a 

 certain field : his mode of catching them was by watch- 

 ing the twigs on which they perched, on returning to 

 their nest ; these he prepared with bird-lime, and seldom 

 failed capturing several specimens. 



Some of the foreign species of Shrikes have an addi- 

 tion of plumage, of a fanciful character. The annexed 

 engraving is a representation of the Puff-backed Shrike ; 

 the light downy tuft bears a close resemblance to a 

 powder-puff; it must add either to the comfort or con- 



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