56 THE GREAT, OR ASH-COEOCRED SHRIKE. 
It is most probably, however, generally effected 
by suddenly darting on, or wearing out, the object 
of pursuit, and seizing it with the bill ; for neither 
are the wings suited for a rapid pursuing flight, as 
among the true raptorial birds, nor are the feet 
capable of seizing or holding it until torn to pieces ; 
and it may be from the comparative weak forma- 
tion of these organs that the Shrikes have been 
endowed with the curious faculty of imitation, by 
which they are in a manner able to entice within 
their power the adult birds, and also the young 
which so readily obey the call of their parents. It 
is to the same cause, also, that we may refer that 
instinctive propensity which has gained for them 
both their Latin and English appellations, and 
forms such an excellent substitute or provision to 
assist in the tearing or disjointing of their food. 
Every author and observer has noticed the sin- 
gular manner in which the Shrikes impale their 
prey on some thorn, or sharp pointed branch, or 
fix it in some cleft, before commencing to devour 
it, or when kept in confinement, by thrusting it 
between the wires of the cage. From the weak 
structure of the feet and claws, it is evident that 
the birds could not tear their prey to pieces with- 
out some firm resistance, such as that which is 
given in the strong and grasping feet of the fal- 
cons and hawks, and nature has taught them me- 
chanically to supply this structure in the same 
way that she has instructed the thrush to resort 
to some convenient stone to break the snail shells, 
or the crow to mount aloft with the crab or shell 
