THE BUTCHER-BIRD. 109 



their size rather to be classed with the harmless 

 order of the sparrow kind, but that from their 

 crooked beak, courage, and appetite for slaughter, 

 certainly deserve a place here. The lesser But- 

 cher-Bird is not much above the size of a lark ; 

 that of the smallest species is not so big as a 

 sparrow; yet, diminutive as these little animals 

 are, they make themselves formidable to birds of 

 four times their dimensions. 



The greater Butcher-Bird is about as large as 

 a thrush; its bill is black, an inch long, and 

 hooked at the end. This mark, together with its 

 carnivorous appetites, ranks it among the rapa- 

 cious birds ; at the same time that its legs and 

 feet, which are slender, and its toes, formed 

 somewhat differently from the former, would seem 

 to make it the shade between such birds as live 

 wholly upon flesh, and such as live chiefly upon 

 insects and grain. 



Indeed, its habits seem entirely to correspond 

 with its conformation, as it is found to live as well 

 upon flesh as upon insects, and thus to partake in 

 some measure of a double nature. However, its 

 appetite for flesh is the most prevalent, and it 

 never takes up with the former when it can ob- 

 tain the latter. This bird, therefore, leads a life 

 of 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 



