56 THE GREAT, OR ASH-COLOURED SHRIKE. 



It is most probably, however, generally effected 

 by suddenly darting on, or wearing out, the object 

 of pursuit, and seizing it with the bill ; for neither 

 are the wings suited for a rapid pursuing flight, as 

 among the true raptorial birds, nor are the feet 

 capable of seizing or holding it until torn to pieces ; 

 and it may be from the comparative weak forma- 

 tion of these organs that the Shrikes have been 

 endowed with the curious faculty of imitation, by 

 which they are in a manner able to entice within 

 their power the adult birds, and also the young 

 which so readily obey the call of their parents. It 

 is to the same cause, also, that we may refer that 

 instinctive propensity which has gained for them 

 both their Latin and English appellations, and 

 forms such an excellent substitute or provision to 

 assist in the tearing or disjointing of their food. 

 Every author and observer has noticed the sin- 

 gular manner in which the Shrikes impale their 

 prey on some thorn, or sharp pointed branch, or 

 fix it in some cleft, before commencing to devour 

 it, or when kept in confinement, by thrusting it 

 between the wires of the cage. From the weak 

 structure of the feet and claws, it is evident that 

 the birds could not tear their prey to pieces with- 

 out some firm resistance, such as that which is 

 given in the strong and grasping feet of the fal- 

 cons and hawks, and nature has taught them me- 

 chanically to supply this structure in the same 

 way that she has instructed the thrush to resort 

 to some convenient stone to break the snail shells, 

 or the crow to mount aloft with the crab or shell 



