166 



SHRIKES. 



tell, almost to a certainty, what species of Hawk is approaching, 

 without running the risk of discovery, hy looking out from 

 his retreat. Were it not for the penetrating and keen eye of 

 this his watch hird, he would sit many dreary hours to no 

 purpose, as he would not know when to pull the Pigeons out 

 to lure the Hawk. Like most other birds, they appear con- 

 stant to particular spots for breeding. 



A bird-collector, in the island of Anglesea, mentioned his 

 having, for many seasons, found a few in, or near, a certain 

 field : his mode of catching them was by watching the twigs 

 on which they perched, on returning to their nest ; these he 

 prepared with bird-lime, and seldom failed capturing several 

 specimens. 



Some of the foreign species of Shrikes have an addition of 

 plumage, of a fanciful character. The annexed engraving is 

 a representation of the Puff-backed Shrike ; the light downy 

 tuft bears a close resemblance to a powder-puff; it must add 

 either to the comfort or convenience of the bird, though in 



what way we can form 

 no opinion. 



After the Shrikes, 

 we find in the tables 

 the Thrush genus (see 

 Table YIL, page 12), 

 of which we have in 

 England seven species, 

 viz., 1. Missel-Thrush; 

 2. Fieldfare; 3. Song- 

 Thrush; 4. Eedwing; 

 5. Ring-Ousel; 6. Black- 

 bird; and 7. Water- 

 Ousel or Dipper. 



The first of these, the Missel-Thrush, is not only the largest, 

 but the finest and boldest of the family, and has some claims 

 to our esteem, from its being the earliest song-bird of the 

 year ; often favouring us with its notes, at a season when 

 every other bird slinks away to its hiding-place, glad to 

 escape the inclemency of the weather. In the height of a 



