578 HOMES WITHOUT HANDS. 



them, and devoureth them (ungrateful subtill fowle !) in requital 

 for their simplicity and pains. 



" Heere I end of this hawke, because I neither accompte her 

 worthy the name of a hawke, in whom there resteth no valor or 

 hardiness, nor yet deserving to have any more written upon her 

 propertie and nature. For truly it is not the property of any oth- 

 er 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, ger- 

 falcon, sacre, merlyn, and such like." 



The Shrikes have a peculiarity which is not shared by any oth- 

 er predaceous bird. When they have slain their prey, no matter 

 whether it be bird, beast, reptile, or insect, they take it to some 

 thorn-tree and there impale it, pressing a long and sharp thorn 

 into the body, so as to hold it firmly. The Great Gray Shrike 

 will thus impale the smaller birds, frogs, field-mice, and other 

 creatures which are nearly as large as itself, and in some instances 

 it has been known to kill and impale the thrush. It does not al- 

 ways employ thorns for this purpose, but will use sharply-pointed 

 splinters of wood, or even an iron spike if no better instrument 

 can be found. 



Why it should have recourse to such a singular mode of hold- 

 ing its prey is quite a mystery. Some have said that the digest- 

 ive organs of the Shrike are incapable of dissolving fresh meat, 

 and that the bird is obliged to render its prey semi-putrid by ex- 

 posure before it can venture to make a meal. But, as the Shrike 

 frequently eats a little bird or insect as soon as caught, this the- 

 ory falls to the ground. 



Whatever theory may be right or wrong, the fact remains that 

 the Shrikes impale the creatures which they have killed, and pre- 

 fer to hang them near their nests. The Red-backed Shrike is not 

 so formidable a foe to birds as its larger relative, but makes in- 

 sects its chief prey. The nest of this Shrike always affords a cu- 

 rious sight, and as the bird is plentiful it may easily be seen. 



There is not the least difficulty in finding a Shrike's nest, for 

 the owner really seems to use every means which can attract at- 

 tention. In the first place, it is a bird of insatiable curiosity. It 

 will follow, or rather precede, a human being for half an hour at 

 a time, keeping always some thirty or forty yards in front, set- 

 tling near' the top of a hedge, and wagging its long tail up and 



