HAWKING. 
bird shows a marked attachment, and one of long duration, 
towards its young. JSTo sooner are the eggs hatched, than the 
female lends her aid in the discovery of her brood, uniting her 
vociferations with those of the male until their boisterous 
thanksgiving chances to lead to the detection of their abode 
by a human plunderer. Should the happy family, however, 
have the great good luck to remain undiscovered, the little ones 
are as carefully tended as doves in a dove-cote, and until they 
are many weeks old ; as, in consequence of their being so heavy 
and cumbrous, they are not at first expert at pursuing and 
capturing the winged creatures destined for their prey. Till 
the following season, when they separate, by instinct, to find 
each a mate, they all live together, like anything but the san- 
guinary creatures they appear to us. 
Much has been said of their habit of destroying more than 
they can consume, and this feature of the shrike’s character has 
been quoted, as establishing the unsurpassed cruelty of its 
disposition ; but there is a little fact on record that may show 
us how daring a thing it is to doubt for an instant the wisdom 
of the Maker of all things. “ During the spring of 1829, 
locusts abounded to such a degree on the southern coast of 
Africa, that the whole country was completely ravaged, and 
the most serious consequences were apprehended; when vast 
fiocks of collared shrikes made their appearance, and never 
rested from slaying and impaling the locusts till they were 
utterly exterminated.” 
