CHAPTER XVII. 



THE SHRIKES THE FLYCATCHERS THE THRUSHES THE WARBLERS. 



THE Cinereous Shrike, or Greater Butcher Bird (Storre 

 Torn-Skata, or Greater Thorn-Magpie, Sw. ; Lanius Excu- 

 bitor, Linn.), was rather scarce with us; and the like would 

 seem to be the case in the more southern and eastern parts 

 of Scandinavia, where, according to Nilsson, "it is hardly 

 to be found, except during the autumn and winter, and 

 then rather sparingly." In the north, however, this bird is 

 more plentiful. M. von Wright tells us, indeed, it is 

 common in central Lapland. Partially migrates. 



In parts of Sweden the cinereous shrike is called the 

 Var-Fogel, or the wary bird, and in Germany, Wachter, 

 or watcher, for the reason that on the approach of danger, 

 it utters a peculiar sharp cry, which enables other smaller 

 birds, that perfectly understand its import, to get out of 

 the way of the enemy. When falconry was in fashion, and 



