s h r r k e;
tfiele birds among the Pica. Kramer is inclined to have the’
Laniui genus ranked with the Pies *, though in his work it is pur
with the Chatterers, in the P'ajferine order; but Scopoli j places it
with the Pies without ceremony, having no doubt about the matter.
Mr. Pennant', in his firft edition of the Genera of Birds, fuffers it
to ftand laft in the Accipitrine order, but remarks its affinity with’
theP/&r ;j;; and in his laft edition of the Br. Zoology, as well as Genera
of Birds, begins the order of Pies with it. This example we-
lhall follow here, without hefitation, being convinced that it is the
moft natural method, the reafons given- by authors who have-
formed a contrary opinion- not being fufficient to make us think-;
otherwife. For lfiould' we retain the Shrikes in the firft order, on-
account of their principally feeding on animal food, do not the
whole of forrre other-genera do the fame || ? If we dwell on the--
lhape and curvature of the bill §, how will this fquare with the
Parrot kind, whofe natural food is fruit ? and in refpeft to their
living on other birds, whenever opportunity offers, do not feveral
of the Crow genus do the like; not only feeding on flefh, but frequently
purfüing and deffiroying fmall birds ?’ I have feen a Magpie’
give chace to a 2"hrujh, and after pouncing him, feafted on his
ftelh;. and as to thefe birds deftroying young ducks and chickens,
every country houfewife is affured of the fad.. The greater Tit~
moufe alfo,, in this fenfe,_may be truly called a. bird of prey, as it: *
§* " Nec.meo jadicio erraret,.qui eafdem Corvis annumeraret.” Kram. Elent.
Außr. P..364.
Ann, Hiß. Nat. 1. p.2.3.
t Mr. Edouards mentioned the fame in his Hiß. of Birds, vol. ii. p'. 56..
,11 Kingfißser..Woodpecker, Hoopoe, Wryneck, Sec.
§ Kramer has placed the Parrot with his AccigitresI lhould think, on account:
ogthis.circnm&nceit could'be on.no other. Elen. Außr. p, 332;
frequently
S II R I K E.
Frequently feeds on flefh * j nay, fo fond is the bird of it, that if
at any time it obferves, even one of its own fpecies in a fickly or
weak ftate, it purfues, and, picking a hole in the fkull, feafts on
the brains. In one thing, however, I am clear, that the Rapacious,
and particularly the Falcon tribe, differs from the order of Pies;
which is, in their averfion to all vegetable matter whatever,
infomuch that we are told it would caufe their death fhould they
touch i t f ; and they have likewife, it is faid, full as great am
abhorrence of water, as mentioned, p. 117 : now it is well known
that the Shrikes do drink, and, if our thirty-fixth fpecies- be acf-
mitted as one, cannot live without that element; frequenting only
fuch places where it may be found, their prefence alone pointing-
out to the thirfty traveller a relief to his wants. As to the rapacious
order, I fhould think their refufing drink may arife from
the juices of the raw ftelh being alone fufficient to fatisfy
them K
After what has been' faid, I will take up the reader’s time no-
longer, but proceed in enumerating the particular fpecies belonging
to this genus..
Both this and the little blue Titmoufe will often attend the butcher’s fhop in
winter, and pick up little bits of meat, as well as fat ; of which laft they are veiy
fond, infomuch that in winter it proves a good bait for them in a trap-fall.
4 ** Paneingefto moriuntur.” Lin. Syji. Nat. i. p. 128. in the note.
Dr. Leith'» of Greenwich-» informs me of; a circumftance feeming to prove:
what is here advanced.. He has kept an Eagle, for fome time. This bird, fo
long as in health, will never touch waters though conftantly within the reach,
of him; but fo often as he appears in the leaft out of order, and, in courfe, his
appetite not fo good’as ufual, he will gladly drink water by gulps, as freely as
any other bird ; nor is he in the leaft afraid of any one obferving him to do this,,
a* remarked by M. de Bufffon» in our note, p;. 117»
Lanius:.