SHRIKE. 



frequently feeds on flefh*; nay, fo fond is the bird of it, that if 

 at any time it obferves, even one of its own fpecies in a fickly or 

 weak Hate, it purfues, and, picking a hole in the fkull, feaffs on 

 the brains. In one thing, however, I am clear, that the Rapacious, 

 and particularly the Falcon tribe, differs from the order of Pies ; 

 which is, in their averfion to all vegetable matter whatever, 

 infomuch that we are told it would caufe their death fhould they 

 touch iff; and they have likewife, it is faid, full as great an 

 abhorrence of water, as mentioned, p. 117: now it is well known, 

 that the Shrikes do drink, and, if our thirty-fixth fpecies be ad- 

 mitted as one, cannot live without that element; frequenting only 

 fuch places where it may be found, their prefehce alone pointing 

 out to the thirfty traveller a relief to his wants. As to the ra- 

 pacious order, I mould think their refufing drink may arife from 

 the juices of the raw fkfii being alone lufficient to fatisfy 

 them J. 



After what has been faid, I will take up the reader's time no 

 longer, but proceed in enumerating the particular fpecies belong- 

 ing to this genus. 



* Both this and the little blue Titmoufe will often attend the butcher's ffipp in 

 winter, and pick up little bits of meat, as well as fat ; of which laft they are very 

 fond, infomuch that in winter it proves a good'bait for them in a trap-fall. 



■f " Pane ingelto moriuntur." Lin. Syji. Nat. i. p. 128. in the note. 



X Dr.Leith, cf Greenwich, informs me of a circumftance feeming to prove 

 what is here advanced. He has kept an Eagle, for fome time. This- bird, fo. 

 long as in health, will never touch water, though conllantly within the reach 

 of him ; but fo often as he appears in the leaft out of order, and, in ccurfe,his 

 appetite not fo good as ufual, he will gladly drink water by gulps, as freely as 

 any other bird ; nor is he in the leaft afraid of any one obferving him to do this,, 

 as remarked by M. de Biffin, in our note, p. 117. 



lianius:. 



r i7 



