32 THE LITTLE SHRIKE. 



fail, on mice and small birds : these, with mice, moles, and the like, form 

 its winter food. When pursuing its prey, the shrike makes a particular 

 movement, in order to seize it on the side ; but it does not always succeed, 

 as it cannot use its claws like birds of prey, and often only carries off a 

 beakful of feathers. 



In the cage, if the bird be taken when old, some mice, birds, or living 

 insects, may be thrown to it, taking care to leave it quite alone, for as 

 long as any one is present it will touch nothing ; but as soon as it has 

 once begun to feed freely it will eat fresh meat, and even become accus- 

 tomed to the universal paste, described in the Introduction. This shrike 

 eats very much for its site, at the least one ounce of meat at a meal. It 

 likes to have a forked branch, or crossed sticks in its cage, across the 

 angles of which it throws the mouse, or any other prey which has been 

 given it, and then darting on it behind from the opposite side of the cage, 

 devours every morsel, let it be ever so large. It bathes freely. 



MODE OF TAKING. Although it flies very swiftly when pursuing its 

 prey, it may easily be taken if a nest of young birds, crying from hunger, 

 be suspended to some lime twigs. In autumn and winter, it will some- 

 times dart on birds in cages which are outside the window. It may then 

 be easily caught, if the cage be put into a sort of box, having the lid so 

 placed that the bird by the least touch would cause it to fall upon itself. 

 These means must be employed by those who wish to possess birds which 

 they can let go and come at will. 



ATTRACTIVE QUALITIES. Its cry somewhat resembles the guir, gu\r 

 of the lark ; like the nutcracker, it can imitate the different notes, but not 

 the songs, of other birds. Nothing is more agreeable than its own 

 warbling, which much resembles the whistling of the grey parrot ; its 

 throat at the time being expanded like that of the green frog. It is a 

 great pity that it only sings during the pairing season, which is from 

 March to May, and even then often spoils the beautiful melody of its 

 song, with some harsh, discordant notes. The female also sings. As 

 some of its tones resemble the human voice, it might probably be taught 

 to speak. 



THE LITTLE SHRIKE. 



Lauius minor, LINN.ECS ; Der graue Wiirger, BECHSTEIN. 



IT is about the size of the sky-lark, being eight inches in 

 length, of which the tail measures three and a half, the folded 

 wings cover one- third. The beak is black, and seven inches 

 in length; the iris brown; the legs of a lead -colour; the 

 forehead black; a broad streak of the same colour passing 

 from the beak across the eyes and over the cheeks ; the tail is 

 wedge-shaped; the exterior feathers are white, with a black 

 spot. 



