616 



HL\yt Crradurg nf flaturaT ^t' 



the belly flattened, the sides as it were spread 

 out, and the tail extended backwards as a 

 rudder, it forms a very beautiful and pleasing 

 object, moving on the calm surface of a 

 quiet brook, or diving, in an instant, after its 

 food, its black velvety coa_t becoming beau- 

 tifully silvered, with the innumerable bub- 

 bles of air that cover it when submerged ; 

 and on rising again, the fur is observed to be 

 perfectly dry, repelling the water as com- 

 pletely as the feathers of a Water-fowl." 



SHREW MOLE. (Scalops aqiuiticia.) 

 This little insectivorous quadruped inhabits 

 a great part of North America, along the 

 rivers ; and so nearly resembles the European 

 Mole externally, as to be readily mistaken 

 for it ; by Pennant it is described as the 

 " Brown Mole." The muzzle is elongated 

 as in the Shrews, and their limbs are 

 adapted for digging into the ground pre- 

 cisely as in the Moles, which they entirely 

 resemble in their mode of life. Their eyes 

 are exceedingly small, and so completely 

 concealed by the hair, as to require the 

 closest attention for their detection. The 

 auricle is entirely wanting, and the integu- 

 ment of the head nearly covers the tube 

 leading to the internal ear. The feet are 

 very short, and five-toed ; the fore-feet ter- 

 minate in a remarkably large hand, of which 

 the fingers are armed with long, flat, and 

 linear nails. The hind feet are very delicate, 

 and the toes are provided with small hooked 

 nails. This animal burrows with great 

 quickness : his soft and polished fur, pre- 

 venting friction, tends to facilitate his sub- 

 terranean march ; which is generally straight 

 forward, or in gentle curvatures, at a very 

 little distance from the surface ; though 

 sometimes numerous galleries are formed, 

 communicating with each other, through 

 which he is enabled to travel in various 

 directions. Shrew Moles are most active in 

 the morning and at mid-day ; and it is ob- 

 served that their daily appearance above 

 ground at twelve o'clock is truly remarkable. 

 The Shrew Mole is covered with a bright 

 glossy fur, about half an inch in length, and 

 of a very bright lead colour, very closely set, 

 and in all parts directed backwards. 



SHRIKE. (Lanius.) There are many 

 species of these birds ; and it is in this family 

 (the Laniadce, or Shrikes) that we find the 

 largest and most rapacious of the Dentirostral 

 tribe. In their general habits many of the L,a- 

 niadae resemble the Raptorial birds ; for they 

 sit motionless upon their perch, watching for 

 their prey, and then suddenly dart upon it. 

 They live in families for a few weeks after 

 the breeding season ; fly irregularly and 

 precipitately, uttering shrill cries ; nestle on 

 trees or in bushes ; lay five or six eggs, and 

 take great care of their young. Some have 

 the upper mandible arched : those in which 

 its point is strong and much hooked, and in 

 which the notch forms a small tooth on each 

 side, manifest a degree of courage and cruelty 

 which has led to their association with the 

 Birds of Prey by many naturalists. Many 

 of them have the curious habit of impaling 

 the animals they have caught upon a large 

 thorn ; and then pulling them to pieces, and 



devouring them at their leisure. Hence they 

 have derived the name of Bvtcher-birda. 

 The Shrikes have great power of clutching 

 with their toes, and always hold their prey 

 in one foot, resting on the tar.sal joint of 

 that foot, unless when they have fastened 

 it upon a thorn, when they pull it to pieces 

 in a contrary direction. They exhibit great 

 courage in defending themselves and their 

 nests "from more powerful enemies ; and 

 the parents show great attachment to each 

 other and to their young. 



Of this genus there are three British spe- 

 cies, two only of which are commonly met 

 with ; these are 



The RED-BACKED SHRIKE (Lanius col- 

 ?itri<>\ which has derived its English name 

 from the back, scapulars, and wing-coverts 

 being of a rusty red colour. This species 

 arrives in England in May, breeds in the 

 southern counties, and departs in September. 



RED-BAUKKD FHRIKE. (l.ANITJS COLLDUTO.) 



Its nest, which is formed of moss and lined 

 with hair, is placed in hedges. It is con- 

 siderably smaller and scarcer than the next 

 species. 



The SENTINEL SHRIKE; or GREAT GRAY 



SHRIKE. (Laitius excubitor.) This species 



i is as large as a Thrush. Its bill is black, 



and furnished with bristles at the base ; the 

 upper parts of its plumage pale blue ash ; 

 white underneath : the wings, tail, and a 

 band crossing the eyes, black ; some white 

 on the scapulars and tail. It is common all 

 the year in France, and is known in this 

 country chiefly as a somewhat rare winter 

 visitant. " It is one of our late birds of 

 passage, but its arrival is soon made known 

 to us by its croaking, unmusical voice from 

 the summit of some tree. Its nest is large 

 and ill-concealed ; and during the season of 

 incubation the male bird is particularly 

 vigilant and uneasy at any approach towards 

 his sitting mate, though often bv his clamor- 

 ous anxiety he betrays it and her to every 

 bird-nesting boy. The female, when the 

 eggs are hatched, unites her vociferations 

 with those of the male, and facilitates the 

 detection of the brood. Both parents are 

 very assiduous in their attentions to their 

 offspring, feeding them long after they have 

 left the nest, for the young appear to be 

 heavy, inactive birds, and little able to 

 canture the winged insects that constitute 

 their principal food. I could never observe 

 that this bird destroyed others smaller than 



