Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-09-18
SHRIKES.

Unfortunately the northern shrke IS
only winter visitant with us, and conse-
qlently we have comparatively little OPP
portunty to study the habits OF this inter-
sting bird. His real home is in the far
north, but he leaves it at the approach OF
cold weather and at almost any time be
tween the first of November and the first
of April we are apt to meet him In our walks
niield. The chances are, that when we see
him, he will be perched on the top Of a
tree. apparently doing nothing, really
watching most keenly for any small crea-
ture on which he can make meal
If we look at him through our field
glasses, We shall see bird about the size
Of robin. Lut with a hooked, hawk-lihe
bill, which gives him a somewhat sinister
expression. His upper parts are gray, his
wings and tail are black, and there is viii
on the base Of his primaries. and on the
tips of his secondaries and outer tail feath-
ers. His forehead is whitish lorcs and
ear covers, black, and his under parts
white, as a rule finely barred with black
If we continue to watch him We may pos
sibly hear him initiate the cries of SPAR
row or some other small bird repeating
the sound from time to time. All the while
no Keeps bright lookout. and presently,
when his cries have attracted an audi
erce perhaps of song sparrows. he pitchc
down with closed wings, alights upon some
little victim and quickly kills 1t with the
sharp curved bill, often tearing open the
skull.
The shirke has several other names such
as numbering pie" butcher bird" and
mine KILL" all OF which have reference
to his habit of Killing and hanging up lis
victims upon thorns, barbed wire and other
convenient spikes until he is ready to eat
them. The last name was given him by the
'ternans, and arose from ii vulgar belief
tnat tho bird caught and hung up nine Vi =
Tins before he would eat any of them. AS
a matter Of fact, there is no rule about the
number of victims a shrike will impalc
he probably catches all the prey he an
and hangs UP what is not required for i'm
mediate use. The butcher bird prcys chief
~ upon inse Is, small birds and small
mammals, ard erasshoppers, mice and
sparrows are often found amongst the con-
tents Of 4 shrihes larder. Sometimes the
vi7tims are dead when impaled; at other
times they are alive and the finding of in
scots ard other creatures sQuirming on
thorn bush or on a barbed-wire fence
gave rise to the belief that cruelty was
the motive fer this strange habit.
OF course this theory is absurd, and no
better proof of its absurdity Is required
than the fact that in captivity the bird will
impalc Il piece Of raw beef as readily as a
live sparrow or beetle.
There are probably two reasons why the
shrikc inpales his victims One Is the un-
certainty Of the chase. Some days the
ll'llllIIS Is EONu ana ne captures twice as
much game as he can eat, while other DAYS
yield nothing. So, in time Of plenty he 3re-
pareS for time of need. Another reason
is that while in many respects he is hawk
Ike, his feet are comparatively weak ant
he requires something to hold his food be-
fore he can tear it with his hooked bill.
a captive shrike which had been given A
piece of raw meat was observed to search
II over the room for something to hang il
on. He was not satisfied until some one
held out to him a fork. on prongs Of which
he quickly htched his meat and then pro-
ceeded to dine. Gagged shrikes have also
been known to hang their food on pointed
nails, sharpened sticks, and even between
the bars of the cage.
Like crows and jays, they often forget
where they hide things, and their prey 5
sometimes found dried up on the thorns
whore it hung long ago.
The nest Of the northern shrlke is made
chiefly of twigs and grasses In low tr, G
or bush. The eggs, usually six in nurbo~,
are about an inch long, and white, thckly
mar6ed with brown and lavender.
IN the DAYS Of falconry, the shrike Wa
used ny those engaged in sharing hawks
as sentinel to advise them ofthe approach
of the birds they wished to ca pture In Oc-
toher and November, when the hawks were
migrating to the warmer parts Of Europe
the falconers would build for themselves
low turf huts out in the open country. In
small holes in the ground. at a distance
of about a hundred yards on each side Of
the hut were placed two light-colored pig
cons, which, by means of strings. reach
ing to the hut. could be pulled into the
open. and within range of two low nets
also operated by strings leading to the hut.
Tho shrko WAS placed on a little hillorlS
OF lrf at a short distance from the hut.
He was fastened by leather thong at
tached to his leg. and nearby was a hole
IN the turf into which he could retreat in
case of danger. Having very keen eye-
sight he could see a flying hawk long be-
tore IT was visible to the falConers and
having great fear Of the bird Of prey.
would quickly give warning of its APP
preach. The man simply watched the
shriHe, and when he saw the latter lr7w-
ing in mis- feathers and giving other sig 8
OF uneisinoss, ha knew that falcon WIS
coming and prepared To operate his De oys
When the shrke began to scream it WAS
Il sign that the falcon was approach fng
and the man pulled the white pigeons from
their holes in the turf. Their futterinC in
stantly attracted the attention of the ha y X.
and he would generally wheel and swoop
down TO get one. At this moment tn
pigeon was drawn close to the bow
net, and If in his eagerness the hawk fol-
lowed it, the falconer sprung the net ard
the fierce bird was a prisoner. 1t is sta ed
mat by noting the degree of anxiety eX-
hihited by the shrlke. the faiconer could
form good idea as to the kind of hawk
which was approaching.
ERNEST HAROLD BAYNES