254 VEETEBRATES. 



There is a strong bodily resemblance between this Shrike 

 and the Mocking-bird, the distinction lying generally in the out- 

 line, while the plumage is fo 

 i>^ similar that many persons 

 have actually confused the 

 two birds, giving to one the 

 habits of the other, Moro- 

 over, the resemblance is not 

 „ ^ , „. ., merely in outward form. The 



Head of Shrike. •' 



Grey Shrike can also imitate 

 the notes of other birds, and often does so. Audubon, in his work 

 on the American birds, has this passage : 



" This valiant little warrior possesses the faculty of imitating 

 the notes of other birds, especially such as are indicative of p&in. 

 Thus it will often mimic the cries of sparrows and other small 

 birds, so as to make you believe you hear them screaming in the 

 claws of a hawk ; and I strongly suspect this is done for the pur- 

 pose of inducing others to come out from their coverts to the rescue 

 of their suflFering brethren. On several occasions I have seen it 

 in the act of screaming in this manner, when it would suddenly 

 dart from its perch into a thicket, from which there wou'd imme- 

 diately issue the real cries of a bird on which it had seized. On 

 the banks of the Mississippi, I saw one which for several days in 

 succession had regularly taken its stand on the top of a tall tree, 

 where it from time to time imitated the cries of the swamp and 

 song-sparrows, and shortly afterwards would pitch down like a 

 hawk, with its wings close to its body, seldom failing to obtain the 

 object of its pursuit, which it would sometimes follow even through 

 the briars and brambles among which it had sought refuge. When 

 unable to secure its prey, it would reascend to its perch, and emit 

 loud and discordant notes of anger. Whenever I could see it 

 strike its victim, it appeared to alight on its back, and instantly 

 strike its head, which on such occasions I have several times found 

 torn open. If not disturbed, the Shrike would then tear up the 

 body, and swallow fti large pieces, not well cleaned of the feathers, 



