THE SINGING BIRDS. I43 



this manner when in captivity, and after strangling a mouse or crushing its skull, double it through 

 the wires of its cage, and, with every demonstration of savage triumph, tear it limb from limb and 

 devour it. The bird to which we allude had the talent of imitation in great perfection, and had 

 learnt to sing several bars of airs, with a full-toned musical voice. It executed the first part of ' Over 

 the Water to Charlie' with a spirit that would have gone to the heart of an old Jacobite." The term 

 Excubitor or Sentinel was given to the Butcher Bird by Linnaeus, from its vigilance in watching 

 against Hawks and other birds of that tribe, whose approach it is ever the first to perceive, uttering 

 at the same time a querulous chattering, indicative, no doubt, of fear and dislike ; hence on the 

 Continent it is used by persons engaged in the capture of the Peregrine Falcon. 



The flight of this Shrike is slow and undulating, and can rarely be sustained for more than a few 

 minutes at a time ; even when merely passing from one tree to another the bird moves in undulating 

 lines, keeping near the ground, and rapidly agitating both its wings and tail. Its sight is excellent, and 

 its sense of hearing so delicate as at once to detect the slightest sound. In disposition it is bold, 

 courageous, and very quarrelsome ; during the breeding season it lives peaceably with its mate, but 

 after that period each individual provides only for itself, and carries on an incessant warfare, not only 

 with other birds, but with its own race. The notes of the Excubitor vary considerably at different 

 times of the year ; in the spring both sexes possess an actual song, which seems to reproduce the 

 sounds uttered by all their feathered companions. The period of incubation commences in April, 

 and both parents assist in the formation of the nest, which is artistically constructed of twigs, straws, 

 and grass, its round interior being lined with wool, hay, and hair. The eggs, from four to seven in 

 number, are greenish grey, spotted with brown or dark grey, and are hatched in about a fortnight. 

 The nestlings are fed at first upon beetles, grasshoppers, and other insects, but at a later period on 

 small birds and mice. Both parents defend the little family with the utmost courage, and continue 

 their care and instructions until the season for migration. When aged, this species of Shrike soon 

 becomes very tame, and easily learns to obey and recognise its master. In former times it was 

 trained for the chase. 



THE SOUTHERN SHRIKE. 



The Southern Shrike (Lanius meridionalis) is very similar to, but more beautiful than the 

 species above described, and is found throughout Southern Europe and North-western Africa ; the 

 male is about ten inches long and thirteen broad ; the wing measures more than four inches, and 

 the tail four and three-quarters ; the female is half an inch smaller than her mate. The plumage is 

 deep grey upon the upper part of the body, and white beneath, the breast being shaded with a rich 

 red ; the four centre tail-feathers are black, the eye is brown, the upper mandible dark, and the lower 

 one light blue ; the foot is black. 



This bird is, wc believe, the only Shrike that remains throughout the year in Spain ; it arrives 

 in Greece about April, and leaves again in the end of August. Its habits do not differ from those 

 of its congeners already alluded to. The nest, which is usually placed at the summit of an olive-tree, 

 is formed of green stalks, woven together, and lined with sheep's wool and goats' hair ; the eggs, four 

 ■or six in number, are of a dirty white or reddish white, thickly strewn with brown, grey, or red spots 

 of various sizes. These eggs arc regarded as such dainties in Spain, that men will often risk their lives 

 in procuring them for the market. 



THE GREY, OR BLACK-BROWED SHRIKE. 

 The Grev, or Black-browed Shrike {Lanius minor), is 'a beautiful species, from seven and 

 a half to eight inches broad, and thirteen and a half to fourteen inches long. The upper part of 



