GREAT SHRIKE. 179 



It frequents groves and forests, wooded hedge-rows and parks. 

 During migration it may be seen perched upon some hillock, 

 or hovering in the air, and descending in pursuit of its prey 

 when discovered within reach. 



These birds may be readily tamed, even if captured when 

 adult, and will come to a call. When in confinement they 

 follow out their natural bent, adapted to the circumstances 

 they are in, affixing their prey between the wires of the cage, 

 doing so from evident choice, that they may pull it from between 

 them, and leaving it there when they do not require it for 

 immediate consumption. 'This bird,' says Yarrell, 'is used by 

 falconers abroad during autumn and winter when trapping 

 Falcons. The Shrike is fastened to the ground, and, by 

 screaming loudly, gives notice to the falconer, who is concealed, 

 of the approach of a Hawk. It was on this account, therefore 

 called 'excubitor' the sentinel.' Mr. Knapp, however, the 

 author of the excellent 'Journal of a Naturalist,' sa^ys that 

 the name was appropriately given to it by Linnseus, from its 

 seldom concealing itself in a bush, but sitting perched on 

 some upper spray, in an open situation, heedful of danger, or 

 watching for its prey. Rennie relates that in Russia it is 

 trained to catch small birds, and is valuable for its destruction 

 of rats and mice. It is a very courageous bird, attacking 

 fearlessly those that are much its superiors in size, even 

 the Eagle, it is said, and will not allow a Hawk, Crow, or 

 Magpie to approach its nest with impunity. One has been 

 taken in the act of pouncing on the decoy bird of a fowler, 

 'who,' says Bishop Stanley, 'having kept it awhile in confinement, 

 was soon glad to get rid of it, as the sound of its voice at 

 once hushed to silence the notes of his choir of birds. Their 

 antipathy when at large, is shewn at times by teasing it in 

 concert, as they do an Owl, though at other times they 

 surround him without any apparent fear.' Montagu, who kept 

 several, found that at the end of two months they lose the 

 affection for each other which they seem to exhibit in the 

 wild state, and quarrel and fight even till one is slain. 

 Civilization it would appear, among birds as among men, has 

 its concomitant evils as well as advantages. 'I was almost 

 in despair for many days,' says some traveller in an uninhabited 

 region, 'but at length to my great joy I espied a gibbet then 

 I knew at once that I was coming to a civilized country.' 



The flight of this species is interrupted and irregular. When 

 perched, the tail is in constant motion. 



