THE SHRIKES. 79 



• 



My own experience is, however, as I have said, for though I 

 have often looked for a shrike larder I have never found one. 

 Probably our common shrike is almost entirely an insect 

 eater, though once upon a time one did me the favour of 

 acting as retriever of a wounded quail which perhaps I 

 should not otherwise have found. He pounced down upon it 

 from his stand on a small bush and so showed its position, 

 proving at the same time that he has all the will of his larger 

 friends in the matter of flesh-eating. 



The great grey shrike of the Far East, is Lanius Spheno- 

 cerctcs, whose French name Pie Grieche, or speckled magpie, 

 will far more clearly describe him to English readers than 

 any other. He is really a very handsome bird indeed, with 

 the blacks and whites which make the common magpie so 

 charmingly conspicuous. He has a grey back and a somewhat 

 lighter covering underneath, whilst his wings are banded 

 black and white, the side of the head surrounding the eye 

 having the black splash characteristic of most of the butcher- 

 bird family, all these simple tints being combined, as Nature 

 alone can combine, into a perfect assemblage pleasurable to 

 the eye and useful to the wearer. They call him Lanius 

 Excubitor in Europe, "the butcher sentinel or watchman." 

 I have already remarked on the preference which shrikes 

 show for some commanding standpoint, not too high. That 

 this has its advantages is evident. It is no less plain that 

 whilst it may give opportunities to the shrike to see his prey, 

 it none the less places him in a position where he may likewise 

 be seen by whatever enemies he may chance to have. Now 

 it seemsthat certain hawks and falcons are by no means averse 

 from Lanius himself. Evidently, therefore, to be safe on his 

 high perch he must be not merely watchful but possessed of 

 quick sight. That he has this has been proved again and 

 again, and in countries where men make a business of captur- 

 ing hawks and falcons for sporting purposes the shrike be- 

 comes one of their most efficient aids. Pigeon decoys are 

 set out as a lure for the hawks and close by a captured 

 shrike is so tethered that besides having a good view from 

 where he stands, he can retreat into a little shelter prepared 

 for him when the hawk comes. The bird-catcher remains 

 quiet in his hut, busy about anything he cares to turn his 

 hand to, until the clamour of the shrike informs him that a 

 hawk is near. He knows even the kind of hawk, because 

 whilst there are some of these birds of prey who will take 

 only what they can seize in their swoop, there are others who 

 will alight on the ground and so far lower themselves as 

 to search for their hidden prey. The shrike clamours accord- 

 ing to his fears, particularly fears of the hawks that alight. 

 Thus forewarned, the bird-catcher knows what to do, and if 



