i62 SMtrKES. 



generally speaking, very rare in most parts, confining itself to 

 particular districts ; such as parts of Essex, the Sussex downs, 

 Wiltshire, and Gloucestershire, where it is by no means un- 

 common. May not this be attributed to something in the 

 soil, or other local causes favourable to the production of its 

 favourite food? If so, it might be desirable to ascertain to 

 what species of insect it gives the preference, which might 

 lead to some curious inferences in natural history, — throwing 

 light on the remarkable locality observed so often in the 

 animal as well as vegetable world; for, notwithstanding the 

 greatest care, and attention, although not the slightest differ- 

 ence of soil, climate, or situation, can be pointed out, it has 

 been often remarked, that an insect, or a plant, abundant in 

 one place, is not to be found in another, at no great distance. 



A few years ago, a naturalist, for curiosity, removed to his 

 garden several webs-full of the larva) of the Brown-tail moth, 

 which, from its numbers and voracity, had been looked upon 

 as a perfect scourge where it abounded. For a time the 

 caterpillars seemed to feed and thrive, and finally spun them 

 selves up. In the next season, however, few came forth ; and 

 at the season when the hedge might have been expected to 

 swarm with the newly-hatched eggs, not one appeared. 



But to return to our Shrikes : in the parts of England 

 frequented by them, no great difficulty or acute observation is 

 requisite for finding them out. In the first place, the bird 

 announces its arrival by a croaking and most unmusical voice, 

 from the summit of some tree ; then it builds a large and ill- 

 concealed nest, which, if not found out by actual detection, 

 the male will usually discover by its own imprudence, mani- 

 festing great uneasiness and clamour when any one approaches. 

 No sooner are the eggs hatched, than the female lends her aid 

 to the discovery of her brood, uniting her vociferations to those 

 of the male. And should the nest, by extraordinary good 

 luck continue undiscovered, no sooner are the young ones 

 capable of making a noise, than they all join in the cry upon 

 any approach to their bush. We have noticed the lengthened 

 kindness existing between the old and young birds; tin's 



