288 INDIRECT BENEFITS DERIVED FROM INSECTS. 



Amongst the Accipitres the kestril (Falco Tinnuncu- 

 lus, L.) devours abundance of insects. A friend of mine, 

 upon opening one found its stomach full of the remains 

 of grasshoppers and beetles, particularly the former, 

 which he suspects constitute great part of the food of 

 this species. One of the shrikes, also, or butcher-birds 

 (Lanius Collurio) and it is probable that other species 

 of this numerous genus may have the same habits is 

 known to feed upon insects, which it first impales alive 

 on the thorns of the sloe and other spinous plants, and 

 then devours. If meat be given it, when kept in a cage, 

 it will fix it upon the wires before it eats it. Lanius Ex- 

 cubitor also impales insects, but Heckewelder denies that 

 it feeds upon them. If he be correct, the object of this 

 singular procedure with that species, may be to allure 

 the birds, which it preys upon, to a particular spot*. 



Amongst the Piece or Pies the Crotophaga, called the 

 Ani, which is a native of Africa and America, lives upon 

 the locust and Ixodes Ricinus, which it picks in great 

 numbers from the backs of cattle ; but none are greater 



a According to Mr. Heckewelder (Trans. Am. Phil. Soc. \v. 124.) 

 L. Excubitor, called in America the nine-killer, from an idea that it 

 transfixes nine individuals daily, treats in this manner Grasshoppers 

 only ; while L. Collurio would seem to restrict itself chiefly to Geo- 

 trupes, two of which Mr. Sheppard once observed transfixed in a 

 hedge that he knew to be the residence of this bird. Kugellan even 

 thinks that it impales only G. vernalis, which he has often found 

 transfixed, but never G. stercorarius. (Schneid. Mag. 259.) I must 

 remark, however, that I last summer observed two humble-bees quite 

 alive, impaled on the thorns of a hedge near my house, which had 

 most probably been so placed by this species, L. Excubitor being rarely 

 found except in mountainous wilds. (Bewick's Birds, i. 61.) And 

 Prof. Sander states that on opening this bird (L. Collurio) he has 

 sometimes found in its stomach nothing but grasshoppers, and at 

 others small beetles and other insects. Nalurforscher Stk. xviii. 234. 



