I 74



Correspondence, Notes, etc.



I see that Dr. Butler rejects Seebom’s theory that the Shrikes impale

their prey on thorns because their feet are not powerful enough to hold it,

during the process of dissection.


It is quite true, as Dr. Gunther remarks, that this bird “ uses its claws

in an attack upon an enemy”; but I have seen a Starling, when taken by

a trained Merlin, turn on its back and clutch the little hawk with an iron

grip—yet the Starling is not a predatory bird. I have also seen my birds

use their feet for holding a cockroach, but not in the same manner as a

Hawk. The Shrike stands on one foot, and grasps the quarry on the

other. He then rests the shin bone on the perch and, leaning forward,

proceeds to dissect the victim. My birds were quite incapable of tearing up

a bird or mouse until it was firmly tied to a perch for them.


I do not venture an opinion on this point myself, but I see that

Dr. Snell adopts what may perhaps be called the more commonly received

theory. He says: “The Shrike had one particular thorn, a straight

upstanding spike, and to this immediately on being supplied with flesh,

beetles, etc., indeed anything which it could not bolt whole, the bird

always resorted, spiking the morsel, then tearing small pieces off with its

beak.”


In conclusion I may say that I found my Shrikes most interesting

birds, full of character and well worth the little extra catering required.

I believe the best food to be young mice. A shrike will eat almost anything

but there is evidently a limit to what he can digest. 1 advertised for some

black beetles and received some ship’s cockroaches—the most fearsome

looking beasts imaginable. However, I administered several and within

two da}-s both birds—hitherto perfectly healthy—were dead.


W. K. Teschemaker.


LIVING BIRDS ATTACKED BY MAGGOTS.


fo the Hon. Correspondence Secretary.


Dear Dr. Buteer, — Knowing you to be an insect specialist, I am

enclosing some flies for the favour of identification. The following is their

history :—


A few weeks ago, I procured a nest containing two young Hangnests

[Icterus xanthornis) about eight da}’s old. In a few days I found that the

smaller bird had a swelling under the skin, close to the e3’e-ball. The

larger bird had two such swellings on the throat, and one on the abdomen

—in each case just under the skin. I soon discovered, principally from

the shape, that each swelling was nothing more nor less than a live maggot,

about half an inch long. All went well until the birds had been five or six

da}-s in my possession, when the maggots disappeared ; upon searching

under the hay upon which the birds had been nestling, I discovered about a

dozen live fat maggots. I thus came to the conclusion that other maggots,

as well as those I had located, had been parasitic upon the young birds.



