WOOD-CHAT SHRIKE. 317 



vaillant, leave no doubt of its constituting a di- 

 stinct species. Its general habits are similar to 

 those of the Grey Shrike and the Flusher, preying 

 on the smaller birds and the larger kind of insects, 

 Doth which it transfixes on the thorns of the 

 hedges and shrubs which it frequents, and not 

 unfrequently inveigles other birds to its haunts 

 by an exact imitation of their note; a faculty ob- 

 served also in the former species. It is of a bold 

 and undaunted disposition, and has such strength 

 of bill, that, according to Sonnini, it can pierce 

 the hand through a double glove; for which reason 

 the bird-catchers in Egypt, Avhere it is very com- 

 mon, and sold as an, article of food, are in the 

 habit of tying the bill as soon as the bird is 

 taken; for as the religious prejudices of the Ma- 

 hometans render it necessary that they should not 

 be strangled, but bled, they must of course be 

 sold alive in the markets. Monsr. Levaillant re- 

 presents this species as by no means uncommon 

 in the interior of Africa, where it does not in the 

 least differ from the same species found in Europe. 



It remains to give a part icular description of the 

 colours. The forehead, to some distance above 

 the bill, is black, descending a little on each side, 

 in order to form the eye-streak, which passes down 

 and joins the black colour of the middle of the 

 back and the shoulders : the greater wing-feathers 

 are black with pale subferruginous edges, and 

 marked towards the base by a white spot: the 

 smaller wing-feathers are black with white. edges: 

 the scapular-feathers white, forming a large oblique 



