io6 STORIES AH OUT BIRDS. 



laughter ring in his car, and he wonders from whence they come. Perhaps, if 

 he inquires further into the matter, he will catch sight of a large bird like that 

 in the picture, with a white throat and head, and the rest of the plumage a 

 reddish brown. He is called the laughing thrush, for the very reason we have 

 stated ; and the name is as suitable as any that could be given. 



Numbers of laughing thrushes live in the wooded parts of this hilly 

 district, and enjoy themselves amid the deep, cool shadow of the trees. They 

 pick berries from the trees, and feed on insects and worms, which are procured 

 by hunting about on the ground ; and some of the species, that inhabit other 

 parts of the tropics, are a little like the shrikes or butcher-birds in their habits. 



They also live in thick woody districts, and place their nest in a bush. 

 They are extremely noisy, like their relations, and climb about and creep 

 among the foliage, eating the buds and leaves, and as many insects as they 

 can pick up. 



THE SHRHvE, OR BUTCHER-BIRD. 



The shrike had better have been put with the birds of prey, if we come to 

 inquire into his private life. He has many habits that remind us of the 

 hawk, and his beak has something about it that is very hawk-like. It is 

 strong, and has a hooked point to it, and he uses it to tear and to devour. 

 He will even swoop on his prey, strike it down with his bill, and carry it off, 

 not, however, with his claws, but with his bill. 



Indeed, in the old days of falconry, the shrike was looked upon as a 

 mongrel kind of hawk, and, to quote from an old book, " thought of no great 

 regard," 



In the same old book it is said that the peasants and lower classes some- 

 times tame the shrike, and carry him hooded on their wrists, and let him fly 

 at small birds. 



On the continent, however, the shrike was used in catching the peregrine 

 falcon himself A snare was set for him, and baited with a pigeon. Then at 

 a little distance a tame shrike was placed, fastened to a string. The shrike 

 was to act as a sentinel, and to give warning when the falcon came near. 



