168 LANIAD^l. 



captured ; but the surprise and mortification of the bird- 

 catcher may be imagined, when, on his arrival at home, 

 he found that the Shrike had killed all its companions in 

 captivity." 



Mr. Selby, who has seen the Grey Shrike when alive in 

 its wild state, says, " Its flight is interrupted, being per- 

 formed by jerks ; and when perched, the tail is kept in 

 constant motion." It has considerable power of voice, 

 and sufficient flexibility to enable it to imitate the notes 

 of some of the smaller birds ; and this power it is said to 

 exercise as a decoy, the more easily to obtain food by 

 deceiving small birds. A writer in the Naturalist, says, 

 " My first acquaintance with the Butcher Bird was occa- 

 sioned by hearing notes not entirely familiar to me, though 

 much resembling those of the Stonechat. Following the 

 sound, I soon discovered the utterer ; and while listening, 

 to my surprise the original notes were discarded, and 

 others adopted of a softer and more melodious character, 

 never, however, prolonged to anything like a continuous 

 song. Its grave ash-coloured garb, with its peculiar black 

 patch on the cheek, soon convinced me that my unknown 

 friend was the Butcher Bird." This bird is used by fal- 

 coners abroad during autumn and winter when trapping 

 Falcons. The Shrike is fastened to the ground, and, 

 by screaming loudly, gives notice to the falconer, who is 

 concealed, of the approach of a Hawk. It was on this 

 account, therefore, called excubitor, the sentinel. The 

 signal thus given of the approach of a Hawk, the falconer, 

 from his hiding-place, a hole in the ground, withdraws the 

 Shrike by pulling one string, and by pulling a second 

 string exhibits a Pigeon the moment the Hawk pounces 

 upon the Pigeon a sharp pull upon a third string in an 

 instant brings a small bow-net over both Hawk and 

 Pigeon. It frequents groves and forests, and builds on 



