THE TOOTH-BILLED PBROHERS. 2i)5 



every part excepting the wings. It now and then pursues bird<t 

 that are on the wing to a considerable distance. 



The name Uxcubitor or Sentinel is given it from its hahit 

 of watching for birds of prey, and chattering loudly directly it 

 perceives them ; thereby proving that, like most other tyrants, he 

 has a great objection to suffering any injury himself. The bird- 

 catchers on the continent of Europe take advantage of this pecu- 

 liarity, to assist them in the capture of the peregrine falcon. The 

 fowler places a small net on th« ground, with a pigeon fastened to 

 it by way of bait. A string is attached to the net, and brought 

 within a turf hut where the fowler sits. Close to the hut a shrike 

 is tied to the ground, and two pieces of turf are set up as a shelter 

 for the bird from the weather, and as a refuge from the hawk. 

 The fowler remains within his hut busied with some sedentary 

 occupation, knowing well that his vigilant watchman will not fail 

 to give him notice of the approach of a hawk. Directly a hawk 

 appears in the distance, the shrike becomes agitated j as it draws 

 nearer, he begins to scream with fright; and just as the hawk 

 pounces on the pigeon, he runs under his turf, which is the signal 

 to the fowler within the hut to pull the string, thereby enclosing 

 the hawk within the folds of the net. 



The nest is built on trees, and contains about six eggs, 

 greyish-white, spotted with dark ash on the larger end ; the length 

 of the bird is from nine to ten inches. 



The Red-backed Shrike is much more common than the 

 last-mentioned bird, and may be seen in and about hedges, 

 throughout Great Britain, in the spring, when it is occupied in 

 building its nest. It is rather a noisy bird, and -the nest is so 

 large as to be easily discovered. It feeds principally on insects, 

 such as bees, beetles, etc., which may frequently be found impaled 

 on thorns. 



Mr. Wood relates that he found many insects impaled by 

 this bird, but the insect most commonly found in this position was 

 the staphylinus eryihropterus ; but he says he also found ground 

 beetles and humble bees thus impaled. 



These impaled insects form a very good indication as to the 



