Butcher-Bird. Northern Shrike 



Perched on a point of vantage on some tree-top or 

 weather-vane, his hawk-like eye can detect a grasshopper 

 going through the grass fifty yards away. 



NELTJE BLANCHAN. Bird Neighbors. 23 



My attention was first called to it by hearing a harsh, 

 uncouth noise, as unmusical as the creaking of a hinge, 

 which it somewhat resembled, but with a venomous touch 

 of animosity. I never heard anything more barbaric 

 from the throat of any bird. 



PARKHURST. The Birds' Calendar. 31 



In Germany he is called the nine-killer, from the belief 

 that he kills and sticks upon thorns nine grasshoppers a 

 day. 



BURROUGHS. Locusts and Wild Honey. 6 



CATBIRD 



It is unfortunate that the catbird's name should have 

 originated in his call-note rather than in his song. The 

 former is a petulant, whining, nasal tchay, to me one of 

 the most disagreeable sounds in Nature, and so unlike 

 the bird's song that he seems possessed of a dual person- 

 ality. The catbird's song, from a musical standpoint, is 

 excelled by that of few of our birds. His voice is full 

 and rich, his execution and phrasing are faultless. 



CHAPMAN. Bird Life. 22 

 40 



