12 SHRIKE. 



ones, more or less white at the base; outer web of the exterior feather 

 white ; breast, belly, and sides blossom-colour ; quills brown ; legs 

 black. 



The female is rather larger ; has the head dull ferruginous, mixed 

 with grey; the streak through the eyes brown; breast, belly, and 

 sides dirty white, crossed with semicircular dusky lines; tail deep 

 brown, the outer feather white on the outer web. 



Inhabits various parts of Europe. In England comes in the 

 spring, and after breeding with us, departs in autumn ; it makes the 

 nest in a hedge, or low bush, of moss and dried fibres, mixed with 

 wool, and lined with hair ; lays six white eggs, with a circle of rufous 

 brown spots towards the larger end ; is an enemy to small birds, 

 which avoid its haunts, for it not only feeds on insects, but the young 

 of other birds in the nest, first seizing them by the neck, and 

 strangling them, beginning to eat them at the brain and eyes ; is 

 also fond of grasshoppers, and beetles, which are eaten by morsels, 

 sticking the remainder on a thorn ; and when kept in a cage, does 

 the same against the wires. In a state of confinement may be fed 

 with sheep's kidneys, of which it will consume a whole one every day. 

 This species has no note more than a chirp, but is said by some to 

 imitate the notes of others, by way of decoy, like the Cinereous Shrike. 



Is found in the temperate and open parts of Russia, but not in 

 Siberia ; sufficiently common in France and Italy, as well as other 

 parts of the Continent, migrating according to the season ; common 

 in Egypt, and there called Dagnousse ; caught in large numbers in 

 nets, and sold alive, as well as all those birds which the law forbids 

 to be strangled, and which must not be used for food till they have 

 bled ; but as these Shrikes are very fierce, and often bite the fingers 

 severely, the bird-catchers tie together the two ends of the beak 

 with one of the feathers.* They are also met with in several places 

 in Africa, and about the Cape of Good Hope. 



* Sonnini's Trav.m. p. 319. 



