202 BIRDS 



streak of flesh from the victim's breast; then it would 

 disengage its prey, each time pulling the Sparrow farther 

 on the thorn and tearing another long slit in the flesh by 

 a tugging movement. All the while the young Shrike 

 was impatiently begging for more. Not once did the old 

 bird use its talons to grasp or hold the carcass, but de- 

 pended entirely on the thorn-like skewer to hold the bird, 

 while the tugging with the bill tore ribbons of flesh from 

 the Sparrow's breast. 



After watching the two for twenty minutes I made 

 my presence known and under threatening protest by 

 voice and action I took possession of the remains and 

 photographed them just as the birds had left them on the 

 thorn. 



The full-grown Bluebird herein illustrated was a 

 victim of these impaling birds. (Fig. 115.) 



