BRITISH BIRDS. 
57 
tongue is divided at the end ; the outer toe is con- 
nected to the middle one as far as the firft joint. 
To thefe exterior marks we may add, that it pof- 
fefles the moil undaunted courage, and will attack 
birds much larger and ftronger than itfelf, fuch as 
the Crow, the Magpie, and molt of the fmaller 
kinds of Hawks ; if any of thefe lhould fly near 
the place of its retreat, the Shrike darts upon them 
with loud cries, attacks the invader, and drives it 
from its neft. The parent birds will fometimes 
join on fuch occafions; and there are few birds that 
will venture to abide the conteft. Shrikes will 
chace all the fmall birds upon the wing, and fome- 
times will venture to attack Partridges, and even 
young hares. Thrufhes, Blackbirds, and fuch like, 
are their common prey ; they fix on them with 
their talons, fplit the fkull with their bill, and feed 
on them at leilure. 
There are three kinds found in this kingdom, of 
which the following is the largeft. 
