CHAPTER XXVI

THE SHRIKE

Amongst the “black-eyed” birds of prey must be classed a small sparrow-like bird, grey and black in colouring. In the Kurdish language it is called _bāzūrī_, and in Persian _ālā güzkina_.[300] In size it is somewhat larger than a sparrow: the wings are dark: the eyes have a dark line of antimony:[301] the claws and beak are black, sharp, and powerful. When trained, it kills with ease sparrows and the small _tisks_[302] found in the wheat and barley, in Spring. It also comes well to the lure from a distance.

There are two species. One grey and black with the antimony line under the eyes, and one yellowish. The former is decidedly the better.[303]

FOOTNOTES:

[300] This is Turkish, not Persian. Persian Turks call the shrike _ālā güzina_ also. In Shaw’s Turki Vocabulary (Appendix by Scully), _Lanius Homeyeri_, the Grey Shrike, is said to be called _ālā g͟hurālāi_, and _Lanius arenarius_, the Desert Shrike, _boz̤ g͟hurālāi_. The word _ālā_ in Turki means “variegated” or “spotted.” In _Lahore to Yarkand_ (page 182) the Brown Shrike, _Lanius Cristatus_, is said to be called _urulia_ in Turki.

[301] _Surma kashīda_; antimony is applied by means of a needle to an Eastern’s eye, underneath the lashes of the under lids, and to the outer corners of the eyes.

[302] _Tisk_ may be the Short-toed or Social Lark. In Shiraz, however, _tisk_ is the name of a warbler like a white-throat, called in Kirman _turnusk_, and also _barādar-i bulbul_, “the nightingale’s brother.” _Sisk_ and _tirnisk_ are names that are probably both applied to the same warbler.

[303] The Indian Grey Shrike (Lanius lahtora), called in the Derajat _laṭorā_ and _mamālā_, used to be trained in Dera Ismail Khan to catch small birds. A smaller species called _mamālī_—probably the Rufous-backed Shrike, the _harwājī_ of Kashmir (Lanius erythronotus)—does not appear to have been trained. Of the former Jerdon writes:—“Mr. Philipps states that he has seen it capture small birds; and that in the North-West, it is occasionally trained to do so. He also relates that it is sometimes picketed to the ground, closely attached to a starling, the neighbouring bushes, twigs, etc., being well smeared with bird-lime. All sorts of birds come to witness the supposed fight and to separate the combatants, and many are captured by the limed branches.”