THE SHKIKE. 219 



mans also call it by a word which we may render 

 Ninekillcr, because, say they, it kills nine birds 

 every day. Another old English name is Matta- 

 gesse ; and an old French writer calls it Falconellc^ 

 From an old quatrain in Portraits d' Oyseaux, it 

 seems to have been considered a useful bird in 

 France, on account of its destructive warfare 

 against mice, rats, and other animals. The name 

 of the genus, Lanius, was given by Gesner, from 

 lanio, to cut or tear in pieces. 



The shrike was formerly much used by falconers, 

 and an extract from the Book of Falconrie, or 

 Hawkinge, published in 1611, and also from Sir 

 John Sebright, will show why it received the 

 specific name of excuhitor, or sentinel, which 

 Linn je us applied to it — the warder butcher-bird, 

 as another writer on hawking calls it. *' Her 

 feeding," says Turbervile of this shrike, " is U]X)n 

 rattes, squirrells, and lisards ; and sometime upon 

 certaine birds, she doth use to prey, whom she 

 doth entrappe and deceive by flight, for this is her 

 devise. She will stand at pearch upon some tree 

 or poste, and there make an exceeding lamentable 

 cry and exclamation, such as birdes are wonte to 

 doe being wronged, or in hazarde of mischief, and 



