554 THE SHRIKE WHEN ON THE WING 



There are two very different birds of this country which 

 the Shrike resembles iu the relative proportions of the wings 

 and tail, as well as iu the general conformation of the body. 

 These are the Mockingbird, Mimus polyglottus, and the Sharp- 

 shinned Hawk, Acoipiter fuscus. Now if we picture to our- 

 selves a bird whose attitudes, movements, and especially 

 whose mode of flight, may partake on occasion of those of 

 either of the birds just named, we shall have no wrong idea 

 of the varied actions of which the Shrike is capable. The 

 close general resemblance of the Shrike to a Mockingbird is 

 really remarkable. The two are of about the same size, shape, 

 and color — in fact, it is not the easiest thing to tell them 

 apart at a little distance, especially when they are flying. 

 The similarity has long since been duly noted and commented 

 upon ; in fact, Swainson went so far as to make it the basis of 

 a strong argument in favor of his fanciful quinarian theory 

 of afilnity. The mode of flight, then, of the Shrike, under 

 ordinary circumstances, is necessarily much the same as that 

 of a Mockingbird, being light, wayward, and even undulatory, 

 when the bird is simply moving about at his ease, or foraging 

 for the humbler kinds of prey that contribute to Lis support. 

 Yet even under these conditions there is a certain dash about 

 it, giving hint of the spirit he can infuse into his actions when 

 he calls his powers to their full display. Then, in the manner 

 of the Hawk, his flight is strengthened, firmly sustained for 

 long distances, and on occasion quickened at a prodigious rate; 

 the climax of this exploiting being reached when he plunges 

 headlong after his prey, hurtling like a very Hawk. He is 

 said at times to hover in the air, just over his intended victim, 

 as if taking aim before he stoops to his quarry ; but this can 

 hardly be a characteristic habit, or it would not have escaped 

 my attention. I do not remember to have ever witnessed it, 

 though it need not be doubted that the action is sometimes 

 performed. When not on the wing, we may observe in the 

 Shrike's habitual attitudes the same blending of Mockingbird 

 and Hawk; or rather, the transition from one to the other, 

 when his air of indifference and rather " slouchy" appearance 

 give way to the martial bearing which indicates that his 

 attention is riveted upon intended conquest. 



So versatile and animated a spirit as that which the Shrike 

 possesses necessarily seeks expression. There is no reticence 

 about this bird, whose harsh outcries we may in turn interpret 



