THE CINEREOUS SHRIKE. 283 



that it was wished to capture the jer or other falcons alive, 

 the fowler used therefore to pin a shrike to the ground, near 

 to his ambush ; and the bird, from its quick-sightedness, 

 was quite sure to give him timely notice of the coming of the 

 quarry. Hence the shrike obtained the appropriate name of 

 Excubitor, or sentinel. 



The cinereous shrike feeds on field-mice, sparrows, finches, 

 and other small birds ; sometimes it also attacks larger birds, 

 but seldom succeeds in capturing them, unless such as are 

 previously ensnared. Owing to want of strength in its feet, 

 it always seizes its prey with the bill, and kills it by beating 

 it against the ground. If alarmed at such times, it, like 

 the falcon tribe, bears the victim elsewhere in its talons. In 

 the summer it also feeds on lizards, frogs, blind-worms, and 

 other reptiles ; but preferably on larger insects, with which it 

 supplies its young. 



This bird bred occasionally in my neighbourhood. It 

 makes its nest, which is of a large size, in trees and bushes ; 

 and the female lays five to seven eggs, of a greenish-white 

 colour, marked, and this more especially at the larger end, 

 with brown and grey spots. 



The Mindre Torn-Skata, or Lesser Thorn-Magpie (L. 

 minor, Linn. ; L. medius, Brehm.), though not seen with us, 

 has been killed in more than one instance in Sweden, and is 

 therefore classed amongst the Scandinavian birds. 



The Red-backed Shrike, or Lesser Butcher Bird (Allmtin 

 Torn-Skata, or Common Thorn-Magpie, Sw. ; L. ColluriOj 

 Linn.), was frequently seen, as well near to Ronnum, as on 

 the adjacent coast. It is also pretty common in the southern 

 and midland portion of Scandinavia ; but in the more north- 

 ern parts of the peninsula it would not appear to be found. 



