114 
VERTEBRATA. 
THE B'ISCAL SHRIKE. 
nseus and some otlicr autliors went still furtlier, and included these birds with the hawks and 
owls in a single order. They form only two divisions — the Laniidce, or shrikes, and the Tkam- 
nophilince, or bush-shrikes. 
Genus SHRIKE : Lanius. — This includes the Grat Shrike, or Great Butcher-Bird — Pie 
Orieche of the French, Grossere Neuntoder of the Germans — L. excubitor, the largest and most 
common species in Europe. It is about nine inches long ; the upper parts of a light ash-gray ; 
the wings, tail, and a band around the eye, black ; the lower parts white. Its cry is froui, iroui, 
which it repeats constantly, while it perches upon the tall trees. It is a vigorons and courageous 
bird, driving oflf the crows from its nest, and feeding upon insects which it takes on the wing, and 
npon mice, moles, and small birds. It has the habit, in common with the other species, of sticking 
its prey — such as grasshoppers, beetles, birds, mice, &c. — upon thorns, that it may pull them to 
pieces more easily. Hence these birds are popularly called Butcher-Birds ; also Nine-Killers, 
from a popular belief that they kill and stick up nine creatures every morning, before beginning 
to devour their meal. This species builds its nests in trees, and lays five or six eggs. It is sta- 
tionary in southern Europe. Bechstein says : "The call of the shrike is like the gihr ! gihr ! of 
a lark. Like the nutcracker, he imitates many single notes, but does not succeed in the song of 
other birds. His own flute-like tone is very beautiful, resembling the whistling of the gray parrot. 
In producing it,- his throat is distended like that of the tree-frog. It is to be regretted that he 
sings only in pairing time — from March to May — and that the song is interrupted by harsh and 
croaking passages. Both sexes sing. The bird might possibly be taught to speak, as it some- 
times utters notes closely resembling the human voice." 
" All small birds have an antipathy to the shrike, betray anger, and utter the moan of danger 
when it approaches their nests. I have often heard this signal of distress, and cautiously ap- 
proaching to learn the cause, have frequently found that this butcher-bird occasioned it. They 
will mob, attack, and drive it away, as they do the owl, as if fully acquainted with its plundering 
propensities. Linnajus attached to it the trivial epithet of ^Excuhitor^ a sentinel ; a very apposite 
appellation, as this bird seldom conceals itself in a bush, but sits perched upon some upper spray, 
or in an open situation, heedful of danger, or watching for its prey." 
The Red-backed Shrike, L. collurio, is a bird of passage, spending the winter in Asia, and 
arriving in Europe in May. It is seven and a half inches long, and is the most common species. 
It is generally seen in pairs, frequenting hedge-rows and the borders of woods. It is called Ecor- 
chew\ or Flayer, by the French. The other foreign species are, the Italian Shrike, L. minor, eight 
inches long, found in the south of Europe; the Woodohat Shrike, Z. rntilus, seven inches 
long, common in all Afi-ica, and visiting the south of Europe in summer; the Bacbackibi 
