A Butcher and a Hummer 



were enough to make them forget that otherwise 

 he was like Mocker. While they were watching 

 him he flew down into the grass and picked up a 

 grasshopper. Then he flew with a steady, even 

 flight, only a little above the ground, for some 

 distance, suddenly shooting up and returning to 

 the perch where they had first seen him. There 

 he ate the grasshopper and resumed his watch 

 for something else to catch. 



"He certainly has wonderful eyes," said Skim- 

 mer admiringly. "He must have seen that grass- 

 hopper way over there in the grass before he started 

 after it, for he flew straight there. He doesn't 

 waste time and energy hunting aimlessly. He sits 

 on a high perch and watches until he sees something 

 he wants. Many times I've seen him sitting on 

 top of a telegraph pole. I understand that Bully 

 the English Sparrow has become terribly nervous 

 since the arrival of Butcher. He is particularly 

 fond of English Sparrows. I presume it was one 

 of Bully's children you saw in the thorn-tree, 

 Peter. Eor my part I hope he'll frighten Bully in- 

 to leaving the Old Orchard. It would be a good 

 thing for the rest of us." 



"But I don't understand yet why he fastens 

 his victims on those long thorns," said Peter. 



"For two reasons," replied Skimmer. " When he 

 catches more grasshoppers and other insects than 

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