SHRIKES. 169 



evidence, I am inclined to suppose that they keep up this mur- 

 derous practice solely from instincts of cruelty, * and perhaps 

 other instincts, allied to the thieving and hiding propensities 

 of the Magpies and their relations, though, indeed, their acts 

 are murder in the first degree and without secrecy. In brief, 

 is it not probable that they exercise this barbarity and ferocity 

 simply in sport, and for their amusement ? I cannot, at pres- 

 ent, offer to the public any more satisfactory explanation. 



d. Audubon and Nuttall both state that the Great North- 

 ern Shrikes imitate the notes of other birds to attract their 

 attention and to allure them into danger, but I have known no 

 modern ornithologists to confirm these statements, which at 

 present need corroboration. Whilst here in winter, the Shrikes 

 are usually silent, and I have but once heard them uttering 

 any sounds. About the middle of March I observed a pair 

 in a field overrun with mice, and heard their extraordinary 

 note, brief and often repeated, which resembled the buzz of a 

 small insect (with somewhat of a squeal intermixed?). I at 

 first, in my haste and ignorance, attributed this sound to the 

 field mice, but afterwards supposed that it was probably a 

 cry confined exclusively to the mating season of the birds, to 

 whom it certainly belonged. 



I shall close this biography by inserting a very entertaining 

 passage from an old English book on Falconry, which I find 

 quoted in Mr. Wood's interesting book, "Homes without 

 Hands." 



" Sometimes upon certain birds she doth use to prey, whome 

 she doth entrappe and deceive by flight, for this is her desire. 

 She will stand at pearch upon some tree or poste, and there 

 make an exceeding lamentable crye and exclamation, such as 

 birds are wonte to do, being wronged or in hazard of mischiefe, 

 and all to make other fowles believe and thinke that she is very 

 much distressed and stands in need of ayde ; whereupon the 

 credulous sellie birds do flocke together presently at her call 



* There is no more real cruelty in- victims before suspending them, and 



volved in this habit than in the prac- frequently, although certainly not inva- 



tice, on our own part, of hanging up riably, he returns to and devours them, 



poultry, game, etc. ; for the Shrike, W. B. 

 like the poulterer, invariably kills his 



