LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE. 



345 



This species is nine inches long, and thirteen in extent ; the 

 colour above is cinereous, or dark ash ; scapulars and line 



manner may the shrikes claim Africa for their great birthplace. They 

 there wage incessant war on the numerous insect hosts, the larger species 

 occasionally exercising their greater strength on some of the weaker 

 individuals of the feathered race ; and by some gamekeepers that of this 

 country is killed as a bird of prey, being found to destroy young birds, 

 and even to drag the weak young pheasants through the bars of the 

 breeding coops. Small animals and reptiles also form a part of their 

 prey. They decrease in numbers as the colder and more temperate 

 countries are approached; and the vast extent of North America appears 

 only to contain five species. New Holland alone is without any true 

 Lanius, but is supplied by another genus, Falcunculus, allied in form, 

 and now containing two species, which also unite somewhat of their 

 habits, and feed on insects, though the mode of taking their prey shows 

 something scansorial. 



Among the tyrants, the powers of flight are developed to a great 

 extent, as suitable to the capture of the particular prey upon which they 

 feed. In the shrikes, the form is considerably modified ; the wings be- 

 come more rounded, and the tail graduated ; and the general prey is the 

 larger insects of the orders Goleoptera and Hemiptera, to capture which 

 does not require so great an exercise of very quick or active powers, and 

 which are often patiently watched for and pounced upon by surprise, 

 in a similar manner to that described of the North American logger- 

 head. 



They have all the character of being cruel and tyrannous, arising 

 from the peculiar manner of impaling their prey upon thorns, or fasten- 

 ing it in the clefts of branches, often in a wanton manner, as if for the 

 sake of murder only, thus fixing up all it can seize upon. One species is 

 particularly remarkable for the regular exhibition of this propensity, 

 and has become proverbial for its cruelty, — Lanius collaris of Southern 

 Africa. Its habits are thus described by Le Vaillant : — "When it sees 

 a locust, a mantis, or a small bird, it springs upon it, and immediately 

 carries it off, in order to impale it on a thorn, which it does with great 

 dexterity, always passing the thorn through the head of its victim. 

 Every animal which it seizes is subjected to the same fate ; and it thus 

 continues all day long its murderous career, apparently instigated rather 

 by the love of mischief than the desire of food. Its throne of tyranny is 

 usually a dry and elevated branch of a tree, from which it pounces on 

 all intruders, driving off the stronger and more troublesome, and impal- 

 ing the inexperienced alive ; when hungry, it visits its shambles, and 

 helps itself to a savoury meal." The Hottentots assured Le Vaillant that 

 it does not love fresh food, and therefore leaves its prey on the gibbet 



