THE RED-BACKED SHRIKE. 357 



the bird was not considered as a veritable hawk, and in the old 

 days of sumptuary laws, when each degree of rank had its own 

 particular species of hawk, this was a fact of some significance, 

 showing that those who thus employed the Shrike were not of 

 gentle blood. 



The popular notion of the time supplied another reason why 

 the Shrike was looked upon with disdain as a bird-catcher. It 

 was supposed to use guile in securing its prey, instead of openly 

 conquering in fair chase. ' Sometimes,' writes an old sporting 

 author, ' upon certain birds she doth use to prey, whome she 

 doth entrappe and deceive by flight, for this is her desire. She 

 will stand at pearch upon some tree or poste, and there make an 

 exceeding lamentable crye and exclamation, such as birds are 

 wonte to do, being wronged or in hazard of mischiefe, and all 

 to make other fowles believe and thinke that she is very much 

 distressed and stands in need of ayde ; whereupon the credulous 

 sellie birds do flocke together presently at her call and voice, ai 

 what time if any happen to approach neare her she out of hand 

 ceazeth on them, and devoureth them (ungrateful subtill fowle !) 

 in requital for their simplicity and pains. 



'■ Heere I end of this hawke, because I neither accompte 

 her worthy the name of a hawke, in whom there resteth no 

 valour or hardiness, nor yet deserving to have any more written 

 upon her propertie and nature. For truly it is not the property 

 of any other hawke, by such devise and cowardly will to come 

 by their prey, but they love to winne it by main force of wings 

 at random, as the round winged hawkes doe, or by free stoop- 

 ing, as the hawkes of the tower doe most commonly use, as the 

 falcon," gerfalcon, sacre, merlyn, and such like.' 



The Shrikes have a peculiarity whicli is not shared by any 

 other predacious bird. When they have slain their prey, no 

 matter whether it be bird, beast, reptile, or insect, they take it to 

 some thorn tree, and there impale it, pressing a long and sharp 

 thorn into the body, so as to hold it firmly. The Great Grey 

 Shrike will thus transfix the smaller birds, frogs, field-mice, and 

 other creatures which are nearly as large as itself, and in some 

 instances it has been known to kill and impale the thrush. It 



