204 SHRIKES. 



has also a decoy-pigeon, in a string, at a short 

 distance from the hut; and several tame Pigeons 

 at liberty on the outside, which, on sight of a Hawk, 

 infhiediately take shelter within. The Butcher-bird 

 is fastened by a leather thong on a hillock of turf, 

 a yard in height, and a few yards distant from the 

 hut ; a small hole is made, and a piece of turf laid 

 over, for a place of retreat in case of danger. 



The falconer has some quiet and sedentary em- 

 ployment in hand, to occupy his time, which does 

 not prevent his observing every motion of this his 

 little watch-bird ; and it is almost incredible at how 

 great a distance he will perceive a Hawk in the air. 

 If it comes near, he shows symptoms of alarm, 

 drawing in his feathers, and fixing his eyes in the 

 same direction : on its approaching still nearer, he 

 screams aloud ; the Hawk being then, perhaps, not 

 less than three or four hundred yards distant ; on its 

 closer approach, he retreats under the turf, and 

 quite conceals himself. It is then the falconer draws 

 out the Pigeons where the nets are fixed, which, 

 fluttering round, generally tempt the Hawk to make 

 a stoop at one of them, which if he takes, he is 

 inevitably ensnared. While the Hawk is near, the 

 Shrike continues in his hiding-place, hardly daring 

 to show his head at the entrance of his retreat : 

 should the Hawk be taken, or pass over without 

 touching the Pigeons, he cautiously creeps out, yet 

 almost afraid to trust himself on his hillock, looking 

 on every side : and does not for some time recover 

 from his alarm. There is one Hawk, the Goshawk, 

 of which he is particularly afraid, screaming louder 

 than ever, and making every attempt to escape, as 



