160 DENIZENS OF THE FOREST 



The commonest and most widely distributed member of 

 the family is the ordinary Piskal {Lanius collaris) whose 

 shambles is a well-known sight to every South African. One 

 may chance upon a mimosa tree which has been used by 

 one of these birds as a larder, and find impaled on its long 



Fig. 86. — ^Fiskal Shrike on nest. 



thorns grasshoppers, lizards, &c. ; a barbed wire fence is 

 often requisitioned nowadays to fiU the office. 



This bird is not liked by the aviculturist or canary-keeper, 

 as it is pugnacious, and has often been known to kill canaries 

 in their cages. 



As another illustration of the total ignorance of the South 

 African populace as regards bird-life, the late Dr. Exton, 



