REU-BACKED SHRIKE. 6(5 i 



it very much resembles an immature acorn-cup, but when the 

 young are ready for flight, it is deep like an ordinary coifee-cup. 

 This pretty little bird is common in Jamaica. 



In the hedgerows of our own country may often be found a 

 nest which is not only pretty in itself, but remarkable for its 

 accessories. This is the home of the Eed-backed Shrike 

 {Enneoctonus collurio). 



The predatory habits of the Shrikes are well known, and one 

 species, the Great Grey Shrike {Lanius excubitor), was formerly 

 used as a falcon for tlie purpose of catching winged game. True, 

 the bird was not considered as a veritable hawk, and in the old 

 days of sumptuary laws, when each degree of rank had its own 

 particular species of hawk, this was a fact of some significance, 

 showing that those who thus employed the Shrike were not of 

 gentle blood. 



The popular notion of the time supplied another reason why 

 the Shrike was looked upon with disdain as a bird-catcher. It 

 was supposed to use guile in securing its prey, instead of openly 

 conquering in fair chase. " Sometimes," writes an old sporting 

 author, " upon certain birds she doth use to prey, whome she 

 doth entrappe and deceive by flight, for this is her desire. She 

 will stand at pearch upon some tree or poste, and there make an 

 exceeding lamentable crye and exclamation, such as birds are 

 wonte to do, being wronged or in hazard of uiischiefe, and all to 

 make other fowles believe and thiuke that she is very much dis- 

 tressed and stands in need of ayde ; whereupon the credulous 

 seUie birds do flocke together presently at her call and voice, at 

 what time if any. happen to approach neare her she out of hand 

 ceazeth on them, and devoureth them (ungrateful subtill fowle !) 

 in requital for their simplicity and pains. 



" Heere I end of this hawke, because I neither acconipte 

 her worthy the name of a hawke, in whom there resteth 

 DO valour or hardiness, nor yet deserving to have any more 

 written upon her propertie and nature. For truly it is not the 

 property of any other hawke, by such devise and cowardly will 

 to come by their prey, but they love to winne it by main force of 

 wings at random, as the round winged hawkes doe, or by free 

 stooping, as the hawkes of the tower doe most commonly use as 

 the falcon, gerfalcon, sacre, merlyn, and such like," 



o 



