THE BUTCHER BIRD. 



59 



within its reach, as it has teen known upon such oc- 

 casions to dart suddenly into the thicket and bear off 

 the body of some deluded victim. It will also occa- 

 sionally pursue its prey upon the wing for a consid- 

 erable distance, and 

 sometimes succeeds in 

 bringing it to the 

 ground. 



Like the Jays, this 

 bird has the habit of 

 stowing away its sur- 

 plus food, as though 

 for future use. The 

 Jay finds some hole 

 in a tree, or crack or 

 crevice in the bark, 

 where he secretes 

 what he does not need 

 for the present; while 

 the Butcher Bird im- 

 pales its victims upon thorns or other sharp points 

 that may happen to suit its purpose. The object of 

 its so doing remains a mystery, many opinions rela- 

 tive to the subject having been expressed by various 

 observers, but this part of the history of this singular 

 bird has yet to be properly elucidated. 



The Butcher Bird inhabits most of the Eastern, 

 Middle, and Southern States, retiring during Sum- 

 mer to the more northern and mountainous districts, 

 for the purpose of incubation. The nest is generally 

 built among the forked branches near the top of a 



Butcher Bird. 



