Of the Shrike.

THE last family of rapacious birds to be mentioned, is that of the Shrike, which, though they are small, and of a delicate form, yet their courage, their appetite for blood, and their hooked bill entitle them to be ranked with the boldest and the most sanguinary of the rapacious tribe. This genus has been variously placed in the systems of naturalists; it has been classed with the Falcons, with the Pies, and it has even been ranked, especially by the later continental writers, with the harmless and inoffensive tribes of the Passerine kind, to which, indeed, in outward appearance at least, it bears some resemblance. Conformably, however, with what seems to be the most natural arrangement, it is here placed in the rear of those birds which live by rapine and plunder; and, like most of the connecting links in the great chain of nature, it will be found to possess a middle quality, partaking of those which are placed on each side of it, and making thereby an easy transition from the one to the other.

The Shrike genus is distinguished by the following characteristics: the bill is strong, straight at the base, and hooked or bent towards the end; the upper mandible is notched near the tip, and the base furnished with bristles; it has no cere; the tongue is divided at the end, the outer toe connected to the middle one as far as the first joint. To these exterior marks may be added, that it possesses the most undaunted cou

rage, and will attack birds much larger and stronger than itself, such as the Crow, the Magpie, and most of the smaller kinds of Hawks: if any of these should fly near the place of its retreat, the Shrike darts upon the invader with loud cries, and drives it from the nest. The parent birds will sometimes join on such occasions; and there are few birds that will venture to abide the contest. Shrikes will chase all the small birds upon the wing, and sometimes will attack Partridges, and even young hares. Thrushes, Blackbirds, and such like, are their common prey; they fix on them with their talons, split the skull with their bill, and feed on them at leisure.

There are three kinds found in this kingdom, of which the following is the largest.

(Lanius Excubitor, Linn.-La Pie-Grièche grise, Buff.)

THE length about ten inches. Its bill is black, and furnished with bristles at the base: the upper parts of its plumage pale blue ash; under parts white; a black stripe passes through each eye; the greater quills are black, with a large white spot at the base, forming a bar of that colour across the wing; the lesser quills are white at the tips; the scapulars white; the two middle feathers of the tail black; the next on each side are white at the ends, gradually increasing to the outermost, which are nearly all white; the whole, when the tail is spread, forms a large oval spot of black; the legs are black. The female differs little from the male; she lays six eggs, of a dull olive green, spotted at the end with black.

This bird is rarely found in the cultivated parts of the country, preferring mountainous wilds, among furze and thorny thickets. Buffon says it is common in France, where it continues all the year: it is met with likewise in Russia, and various parts of Europe; it preys on small birds, which it seizes by the throat, and, after strangling, fixes them on a sharp thorn, and tears them in pieces with its bill. Pennant observes, that when kept in the cage, it sticks its food against the wires before it will eat it. It is said to imitate the notes of the smaller singing birds, thereby drawing them near its haunts, in order more securely to seize them.

The foregoing figure and description were taken from a very fine specimen, for which this work is indebted to the late Major H. F. Gibson, of the 4th dragoons.

(Lanius Collurio, Linn.-L'Ecorcheur, Buff.)

THIS bird is less than the last, being seven inches and three-quarters long, breadth twelve inches and a quarter. The bill is black; irides hazel; the head and lower part of the back light grey; the upper part of the back and coverts of the wings are bright rusty red; the breast, belly, and sides of a fine pale rose or bloom colour; throat white; a stroke of black passes from the bill through each eye; the two middle feathers of the tail are black, the others white at the base; the quills are brown; the legs black.

The female is somewhat larger than the male; the head is rust colour, mixed with grey; the breast, belly, and sides dirty white; tail deep brown; the exterior web of the outer feathers white. It builds in

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