142 CASSELL'S BOOK OF BIRDS. 



pursuit of food, even to Central Africa. In their habits they closely resemble some of the birds of 

 prey, and their movements bear considerable similarity to those of the Raven family. Although 

 by no means conspicuously endowed in most respects, the voice in some species is highly 

 developed, and all seem capable of improving their natural powers of song, by imitating the sounds 

 produced by other birds. Their (light is irregular, and their step upon the ground a mere series of 

 hops ; but, despite these deficiencies, they display great dexterity in securing their prey, even should 

 it equal themselves in size ; and are exceeded by no other members of the feathered creation in 

 rapacity and the cruelty which they display towards their victims. They devour insects in large 

 quantities, but by no means rely solely upon them for food, for they destroy great numbers of 

 Sparrows and other small birds; and their attacks are all the more dangerous as they are entirely 

 unsuspected. It is not uncommon to see a large party of little birds quietly perched around a 

 Shrike, and evidently regarding it as a friendly companion, whilst in reality the treacherous intruder 

 is merely watching for a favourable moment to dart upon and kill some member of the group that it 

 has already singled out as its prey. One very remarkable habit, depicted in the engraving on 

 page 145, is highly characteristic of this family; we allude to the practice of spiking their victims 

 upon sharp thorns, from which circumstance they have obtained the well-merited appellation of 

 Butcher Birds. The nest of the Shrike is artistically constructed of the green portions of plants, 

 and placed in a thick bush or closely-foliaged branch. The brood consists of from four to six eggs, 

 which are hatched by the female alone, whilst her mate undertakes the duty of providing for her 

 nourishment. Both parents assist in feeding the nestlings, and in defending them. The young remain 

 under parental care and instruction for a considerable time after they are fully fledged, sometimes 

 not leaving it until the winter, for the Shrike, if undisturbed, breeds but once in the course of the year. 



THE SENTINEL BUTCHER BIRD. 



The Sentinel Butcher Bird, or Great Grey Shrike (Lanius Excubitor), is from nine and 

 a half to ten inches long, and its breadth about fourteen inches ; the wing measures four inches and 

 the tail four and a half. Upon the upper part of the body the plumage is of an uniform light grey ; 

 the under side is pure white, and a broad black stripe passes across the eyes. The upper half of 

 the large primary quills, as well as the inner webs and tips of the secondaries, are white, their other 

 portions and the rest of the quills being black ; the centre tail-feathers are black, but with the 

 exception of a large black spot upon the centre of the inner web of the fifth, and a black streak 

 upon the shaft of the exterior feather, the rest are entirely white. The eye is brown, the beak black, 

 and the foot dark grey ; the plumage of the female is less pure in its coloration than that of he-r 

 mate : the young are recognisable by the wave-like markings upon the breast and other parts of the 

 body. The egg is shown at Fig. 3, Coloured Plate XVI. 



This species of Shrike is found in almost every European country, and throughout a large part 

 of Asia and Northern Africa ; it is also very numerous in North America. Everywhere it appears 

 to prefer woodland districts, but is nevertheless constantly met with both in mountain ranges and in 

 marshy plains. Whilst on the alert for prey it may usually be seen upon the topmost branches of a 

 tree, peering eagerly about in all directions, in the hope of detecting any small bird or mouse that 

 may be near, pouncing down and killing it with wonderful dexterity as soon as the proper moment 

 arrives. If the destroyer is hungry the prey is at once dragged away and devoured ; but should 

 this not be the case, the body is impaled upon a thorn, and left for a future meal. Even when tame it 

 continues this habit, and has been known to make constant use of a spike driven into a wall for that 

 purpose by its owner. 



" We have seen," says one writer, " the New Holland Butcher Bird ( Vanga destructor) act in 



