THE PTTTCHER BIRD. 77 



for flesh is the most prevalent, and it never takes up with the tbrmei 

 when it can obtain the latter. This bird, therefore, leads a life o 

 continual combat and opposition. As from its size it does not much 

 terrify the smaller birds of the forest, so it very frequently meets birds 

 willing to try its strength, and it never declines the engagement. 



It is wonderful to see with what intrepidity this little creature goes 

 to war with the pie, the crow, and the kestril, all above four times 

 bigger than itself, and that sometimes prey upon flesh in the same 

 manner. It not only fights upon the defensive, but often comes to 

 attack, and always with advantage, particularly when the male and 

 female unite to protect their young, and to drive away the more pow- 

 erful birds of rapine. At that season they do not wait the approach 

 of their invader; it is sufficient that they see him preparing for the 

 assault at a distance. It is then that they sally forth with loud cries, 

 wound him on every side, and drive him off with such fury, that he 

 seldom ventures to return to the charge. In these kinds of disputes 

 they generally come off with the victory ; though it sometimes hap- 

 pens that they fall to the ground with the bird they have so fiercely 

 fixed upon, and the combat ends with the destruction of the assailant 

 as well as the defender. 



For this reason the most redoubtable birds of prey respect them; 

 while the kite, the buzzard, and the crow, seem rather to fear than 

 seek the engagement. Nothing in Nature better displays the respect 

 paid to the claims of courage, than to see this little bird, apparently 

 so contemptible, fly in company with the lanner, the falcon, and al 

 the tyrants of the air, without fearing their power, or avoiding their 

 resentment. 



As for small birds, they are its usual food. It seizes them by the 

 throat, and strangles them in an instant. When it has thus killed the 

 bird or insect, it is asserted by the best authority, that it fixes them 

 upon some neighbouring thorn, and, when thus spitted, pulls them to 

 p . oes with its bill. It is supposed that as Nature has not given this 

 bird strength sufficient to tear its prey to pieces with its feet, as the 

 hawks do, it is obliged to have recourse to this extraordinary expedient. 



During summer, such of them as constantly reside here, (for the 

 smaller red butcher-bird migrates,) remain among the mountainous 

 parts of the country ; but in winter they descend into the plains, and 

 nearer human habitations. The larger kind make their nests on the 

 highest trees, while the lesser build in bushes in the fields and hedge- 

 rows. They both lay about six eggs, of a white colour, but encircled 

 at the bigger end with a ring of brownish red. The nest on the out- 

 side is composed of white moss, interwoven with long grass ; within 

 it is well lined with wool, and i^ usually fixed among the forking 

 branches of a tree. The female feeds her young with caterpillars and 

 other insects while very young, but soon after accustoms them to flesh, 

 which the male procures with surprising industry. Their nature also 

 is very different from other birds of prey in their parental care ; for, 

 so far from driving out their young from the nest to shift for them- 

 selves, they keep them with care ; and even when adult, they do not 

 forsake them, but the whole brood live in one family together. Each 

 family lives apart, and is generally composed of the male, female, an 

 five or six young ones : these all maintain peace and subordinatior 



