200 THE BUTCHER BIRD. 



taught to fly at any game whatsoever; but the falconers 

 have chiefly confined their pursuit to such as are at- 

 tended with the greatest gain ; and as hares, quails, 

 and partridges comes under that description, they have 

 generally become the objects of their prey, - 



THE BUTCHER BIRD. 



Before the history of rapacious birds is concluded, 

 J shall give the character of one that might, from its ap- 

 pearance, be. classed among the sparrow kind ; but, 

 from its appetite for slaughter, and its crooked beak, it 

 has a right to a place amongst the carnivorous kind. 



The butcher bird is very little larger than a lark, and 

 the smaller species are not so big as a sparrow ; yet, 

 diminutive as these little animals are in size, they make 

 themselves formidable to birds of four times their di- 

 mensions, for they will attack the pie, the crow, and 

 the kestral with the same courageous intrepidity as if 

 they were equals in strength. .Nothing can more com- 

 pletely prove the advantage of courage, that the bene- 

 fit which this apparently insignificant bird enjoys ; 

 for, instead of becoming the prey of more powerful 

 and rapacious animals, it boldly enlists into their train, 

 and is seen flying in company with the falcon and the 

 lanner with as much security as if it was their equal in 

 size. 



Though the butcher bird will occasionally feed upon 

 corn and insects, yet it is only when it cannot find a 

 full supply of food, for its favourite sustenance consists 

 of small birds, which it seizes by the throat, and in a 

 moment kills, and then sticks them upon the point of 

 a thorn.; and, thus singularly spitted, begins pulling 

 them to pieces with its bill ; for it is conceived the 

 claws have not sufficient strength either to tear them 

 to pieces, or secure the.hojd. 



