256 THE GREAT GREY-SHRIKE 



broad patches of snow lie on the ground, it recalls the dingier colour- 

 ing of the hooded crow on a small scale. 



The courting display of the male is difficult to watch, on account 

 of the shy and wary character of the birds. His general demeanour, 

 however, undergoes a complete change. Instead of perching for long 

 periods together on the tree tops, in the attitude which was up till 

 now characteristic of him, with upraised breast, loose plumage, and 

 tail inclined upwards at a wide angle, he becomes more restless and 

 uneasy, and frequently utters the pairing cry, "dweet dweet," which 

 is responded to by the hen with a softer " guet -guet" At these 

 times the body is held very erect, the feathers are tightly compressed, 

 and the tail kept close to the branch on which he sits, so that the 

 bird is scarcely recognisable at first sight. The two sexes are now 

 seldom to be found far apart, and are generally to be seen near the 

 nesting-place after the beginning of March. 1 



As these shrikes pair for life, the same breeding-places are 

 resorted to year after year when undisturbed, and where they are 

 sedentary, as in South Germany, they may be found throughout the 

 year within a mile of this spot. The cock has generally one or two 

 favourite perches close at hand, where he not only watches for possible 

 victims, but also keeps a sharp look-out for any marauding magpie, 

 jay, crow, or bird of prey, such as kestrel, or even buzzard or kite. 

 Should any of these appear, he dashes off in pursuit with harsh cries 

 of "whack, schack" aided when necessary by his mate if she is not 

 already incubating, and generally succeeds in driving off the intruder. 

 But, according to German writers, the loud cries of the shrike some- 

 times lead to his own undoing, for a passing goshawk or even sparrow- 

 hawk may come up, attracted by the noise, and without ceremony 

 strike and carry off the bold defender. 



In addition to the warning-note and the call-note (which 

 Naumann writes as " Truue "), the shrike has quite a pleasing little 

 song, consisting partly of imitations of other birds' notes, introduced, 



1 Dr. Burstert, Ornithologiac)ie Monataschrift, 1897, p. 240. 



