THE PERCHING BIRDS. 



137 



in his claws, when he would busily search amongst the meshes for 

 the insect. 



In China the penduline tit is represented by a species known as 

 Bemiza consohrina. This pretty little bird derives its name from its 

 habit of hanging upside down. In the male the head is grey, the 

 back and wings buff and chestnut, the breast cream, while there is a 

 black band across the eyes. 



We next come to the butcher birds or shrikes, which are represent- 

 ed in North China by six species. These birds derive their name from 

 their habit of spitting their prey upon the long thorns on the bushes 

 in the vicinity of their nest, and leaving them there till required, thus 

 maintaining a larder. They have been known to steal the fledgelings 

 from other birds' nest and treat them in this cruel way. Small rodents, 

 also, sometimes fall a prey to these fierce little birds, but in the main 

 their food consists of grasshoppers, beetles and other insects. The 

 great grey shrike {Lanius splienocercus) is undoubtedly the hand- 

 somest of the three species. The head and back of this bird are of a 

 fine grey; the breast white. There is a black band over each eye. 



The Butcher Bird {Lanius swpercih'osi/s). 



The wings and tail are black, the feathers of thfe latter being tipped 

 with white. It is very common on the plains and in wide valleys of 

 North China, but is seldom seen in mountainous or hilly districts. 



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