Identifier: historyofbritish01morr (find matches)
Title: A history of British birds. By the Rev. F.O. Morris ..
Year: 1862 (1860s)
Authors: Morris, F. O. (Francis Orpen), 1810-1893
Subjects: Birds
Publisher: London, Groombridge and Sons
Contributing Library: Smithsonian Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Smithsonian Libraries

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been met with in England, obliges me to omitit from the British Birds. The species before us is found in Denmark, Russia, Norway,Sweden, Lapland, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Holland, andother countries of Europe, as also in all the temperate partsof North America. In England specimens have been procuredin Yorkshire, (one on the 18th. of April, 1849;) Cumberland,Northumberland, Durham, Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire,Worcestershire, Dorsetshire Devonshire, Wiltshire, Sussex,Surrey, Cheshire, Essex, Staffordsliire, Derbyshire, Bedfordshire,Warwickshire, and Kent. In Ireland, in the counties of Down, Antrim, Sligo,Londonderry, Westmeath, Dublin, Tipperary, Waterford, Cork,and the Queens County. A few have been met with in Scotland. In the Orkney and Shetland Islands it has hitherto beennon inventus. This species is sufficiently scarce in this country to makeit a valuable addition to a collection; and at the same timenot so extremely rare as to render its acquisition almost hopeless.
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GU^AT SHRIKE. GEEAT SHRTKi:. 179 It frequents groves and forests, wooded hedge-rows and parks.During migration it may be seen perched upon some hillock,or hovering in the air, and descending in pursuit of its preywhen discovered within reach. These birds may be readily tamed, even if captured whenadult, and will come to a call. When in confinement theyfollow out their natural bent, adapted to the circumstancesthey are in, affixing their prey between the wues of the cage,doing so from evident choice, that they may pull it from betweenthem, and leaving it there when they do not require it forimmediate consumption. This bird, says Yarrell, is used byfalconers abroad during autumn and winter when trappingFalcons. The Shrike is fastened to the ground, and, byscreaming loudly, gives notice to the falconer, who is concealed,of the approach of a Hawk. It was on this account, thereforecalled excubitor—the sentinel. Mr. Knapp, however, theauthor of the excellent Journal of a Naturalist, says

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