The GREY, or BLACK-BROWED SHRIKE (_Lanius minor_), is a beautiful
species, from seven and a half to eight inches broad, and thirteen and a
half to fourteen inches long. The upper part of the body is light grey,
the under side quite white, with the exception of the breast, which is
slightly tinged with pink; the brow and cheek-stripes are black, the
base of the quills is white, and the remaining portion black; the four
centre tail-feathers are black, the next in order white upon the lower
half, with a dark spot upon the inner web, whilst those at the exterior
are entirely pure white. The eye is brown, the beak black, and the foot
grey. The female is exactly like her mate; but the young are dirty white
upon the brow, and yellowish white, striped with grey, upon the under
surface. The Black-browed Shrike is common in some parts of Europe,
especially in Bavaria, Brandenburgh, the south of France, Italy, and
Turkey; but is quite unknown or rarely seen in most other parts of the
Continent. During its migrations it visits Central Africa; we ourselves
have seen it in the Nile provinces as early as September, and have never
observed it in Europe before May. According to Naumann, this species is
by far the most lively and harmless member of its family; its flight is
light and graceful, and its capacity for imitating the voice of almost
any other bird unusually great. Its food consists exclusively of beetles,
butterflies, grasshoppers, and other insects; it also devours larvæ and
chrysalids in large quantities. When in pursuit of prey it shows great
agility, and usually watches its victims in the same manner as its
congeners; but, unlike them, it does not transfix its booty upon thorns
previous to devouring it. The nest, formed of hay, straw, wool, hair, and
feathers, is placed at the summit of a tree; the eggs, six or seven in
number, are greenish white, marked with brownish or violet-grey spots and
streaks. Both male and female co-operate in the work of incubation; the
young are hatched within a fortnight; they are reared upon insects, and
defended with much courage by their parents, who chase every feathered
intruder to a distance, and will even venture down to confront a man,
should he approach too near the little family. Large numbers, however,
in spite of all their efforts, are destroyed by Hawks, Crows, and other
formidable neighbours.
[Illustration: THE SENTINEL BUTCHER BIRD (_Lanius Excubitor_).]
[Illustration: BUTCHER BIRD AND FLY-CATCHERS.]
* * * * *
The BUTCHER BIRDS PROPER (_Enneoctonus_) are very easily distinguishable
from the above-mentioned groups by their short, strong, and slightly
hooked beak, and by the variety of plumage observable in the male and
female. This group contains two distinct species, of which we are about
to describe the most generally known.