, at least
in my part, he adds another, an innocent botanical passion, which is
so much in evidence that everybody, down to the youngest bird's-nester,
knows all about it. His nest, a massive structure, is made of hardly
any other materials than a greyish and very fluffy plant, which is
found everywhere among the corn. This is the Filago spathulata of the
botanists; and the bird also makes use, though less frequently, of the
Filago germanica, or common cotton-rose. Both are known in Provencal by
the name herbo dou tarnagas, or Shrike-herb. This popular designation
tells us plainly how faithful the bird is to its plant. To have struck
the agricultural labourer, a very indifferent observer, the Shrike's
choice of materials must be remarkably persistent.

Have we here a taste that is exclusive? Not in the least. Though
cotton-roses of all species are plentiful on level ground, they become
scarce and impossible to find on the parched hills. The bird, on its
side, is not given to journeys of exploration and takes what it finds to
suit it in the neighbourhood of its tree or hedge. But on arid ground,
the Micropus erectus, or upright micropus, abounds and is a satisfactory
substitute for the Filago so far as its tiny, cottony leaves and its
little fluffy balls of flowers are concerned. True, it is short and
does not lend itself well to weaver's work. A few long sprigs of another
cottony plant, the Helichrysum staechas, or wild everlasting, inserted
here and there, will give body to the structure. Thus does the Shrike
manage when hard up for his favourite materials: keeping to the same
botanical family, he is able to find and employ substitutes among the
fine cotton-clad stalks.

He is even able to leave the family of the Compositae and to go gleaning
more or less everywhere. Here is the result of my botanizings at the
expense of his nests. We must distinguish between two genera in the
Shrike's rough classification: the cottony plants and the smooth plants.
Among the first, my notes mention the following: Convolvulus cantabrica,
or flax-leaved bindweed; Lotus symmetricus, or bird's-foot trefoil;
Teucrium polium, or poly; and the flowery heads of the Phragmites
communis, or common reed. Among the second are these: Medicago lupulina,
or nonesuch; Trifolium repens, or white clover; Lathyrus pratensis, or
meadow lathyrus; Capsella bursa pastoris, or shepherd's purse; Vicia
peregrina, or broad-podded vetch; Convolvulus arvensis, or