THE GREAT NORTHERN SHRIKE. 
273 
more tender by exposure, bnt would rapidly dry up in tlie sunshine and become hard and 
useless for food. 
Even when tame it continues this habit, and has been known to make constant use of a 
spike driven into a wall for that purpose by its owner, always carrying its food, whether it 
consisted of meat or small birds, and impaling it upon the accustomed spike. A caged bird, 
mentioned in Mr. Yarrell’s work, was in the habit of employing the spaces between the wires 
for the same purpose, always hanging the remnants of its meal between the wires, and pushing 
the prey through the bars while eating. 
Its name of Excubitor, or Watchman, has been given to it from the services which it 
renders to the fowler. 
Fierce and powerful as it is, it holds the falcon in the greatest terror, and is gifted with so 
true an eye for its enemy that it can perceive a falcon when at an immense distance. Taking 
advantage of this peculiarity, the fowlers who set their nests for falcons always take with them 
a Gray Shrike, and after setting their nets, fasten the string to which the bird is tied to a peg 
near the nets. A little turf hut is built as a place of refuge for the Shrike, and a small mound 
or hillock raised, on which it perches. The fowler then retires to his own little hut, places 
the strings which draw the net within reach of his bird, and watches the Shrike out of a small 
window which commands the mound where it is perched. Feeling secure that the Shrike will 
not suffer a hawk to come within sight without giving notice, the fowler takes out his netting 
or other sedentary work, and continues his labor. 
Hundreds of birds may pass over the net without the Shrike giving the least alarm, but 
as soon as it can see a falcon, it flutters about, gets uneasy, and at last begins to kick and 
squall with terror. Roused by the sounds, the fowler jerks some strings communicating with 
perches on which living pigeons are perched, and the flutter thus occasioned attracts the 
falcon’ s attention and induces him to stoop for a prey that appears so easy. As the foe 
approaches nearer, the Shrike’s terror increases, and as the falcon swoops at the pigeons, the 
Shrike screams with fear and runs for shelter under the tiny hut. This movement is a signal 
for the fowler, who draws the strings of his net and incloses the falcon as he makes his dart 
on the pigeons. 
The voice of the Shrike, although sufficiently harsh on occasions, is capable of great mod- 
ulation, so that the creature can imitate the cries of many birds, and even copy with some 
success the sweet notes of the songsters. 
The nest of the Gray Shrike is situated in forests, and is placed in the lofty branches of 
some tall tree. The substances of which it is made are fine grass, roots, mosses, down, and 
wool. The eggs are from four to six in number, and are bluish-gray, spotted at the large end 
with deep gray and brown. The color of this species is pearl-gray on the upper part of the 
body ; the chin, breast, and abdomen are white ; the quill-feathers of the tail black variegated 
and tipped with white ; and a black band crosses the forehead, runs under the eyes, and then 
expands into a black patch on the ear-coverts. The total length of the bird is about ten inches. 
The Great Northern Shrike (. Lanius "borealis ), called also Butcher Bird, is a winter 
visitor in Hew England. It breeds in the far North. Its habits are much like those of the 
hawk, as it feeds on mice and small birds. Its bill is much like those of birds of prey, 
sharp, hooked, and effective in tearing apart its victims. Its feet are also stout, and fitted to 
hold objects of prey strongly. A singular habit is attributed to this bird by all who have 
observed or written about him. He captures habitually more prey than he can at the time 
dispose of, and, instead of hoarding it as the magpie does, he impales his victim on some brier. 
Grasshoppers and small birds are found suspended in this manner. The courage, dash, and 
impetuosity of this little bird are beyond that of any other species — not excepting any of the 
rapacious tribe. It is often the case in the country, during a winter of severity, that this bird 
will visit the barn-yard ; and, should he happen to espy a canary in a cage by the window, he 
makes a bold dash, and brings up against the window-pane, generally to his utter confusion, 
and sometimes to his more serious injury. He is about ten inches in length, and thirteen in 
extent of wing. 
Voii. n.— 35, ' * "• .. 
