BIRDS IN TRAINING 35 



a very clever device to save the trouble of 

 constant watching. 



He tethers out a shrike, or butcher-bird, 

 where it can see the net and the bait, making 

 a little hut of turf for it to run under when 

 the hawk comes. The shrike, although it 

 feeds on other birds itself, is much smaller 

 than a hawk, and much afraid of the fiercer 

 kinds, and so it can be relied on to give warning 

 by its cries and movements when a hawk 

 is coming. Not only that, but it will give 

 some idea of the kind of hawk, and how near 

 it is. It will see a hawk of any kind long 

 before the trapper can ; but if this hawk 

 is only a slow, lazy buzzard or kite, it does 

 not upset itself much. But it is much more 

 excited over a falcon, and is wild with fear 

 when the terrible goshawk is seen. When 

 it darts into its little turf hut for shelter, 

 the falconer, who is watching from his own 

 hut, knows that the hawk has pounced on the 

 pigeon, and makes ready to work the net. 

 But and this is a proof that the shrike is a 

 very clever and observant bird it can only 

 be used for one season as watchman, for after 

 it has by many experiences found out that 



