umos. 91 



former, would seem to make it the shade between such birds ns 

 live wholly upon tlesh, and such as live chietly upon insects and 

 grain. 



Indeed, its habits seem entirely to correspond with its con- 

 formation, as it is found to live as well upon ilcsh as upon in- 

 sects, 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 obtain the latter. 

 This bird, therefore, leads a life of continual combat and oppo- 

 sition. 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 crea- 

 ture goes to war with a pie, the crow, and the kestrel, 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 the attack, and always with advantage, particu- 

 larly when the male and female unite to protect their young, 

 and to drive away the more powerful 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 vvith 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 oflT with the victory ; though it sometimes 

 happens 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 



* Bell in his travels from Moscow, through Siberia, to Pekin, says, that 

 in Russia these birds arc often taken by the bird-catchers, and made tame. 

 He had one of them given to him, which he taught to perch on a sharpened 

 stick fixed in the wall of his apartment. Whenever a small bird was let 

 loose in the room, the butcher-bird would immediately fly from his perch, 

 and seize it by the throat in such a manner as to suti'ocate it almost in a 

 moment. He would then carry it to his perch, and spit it on the end, 

 which was sharpened for the purpose, drawing it on carefully and forcibly 

 with his bill and claws. If several birds were given him, ho would use 

 them all. one after another, in the same manner. These were so fixed, that 

 they himg by the neck till he had leisure to devour them. This sing ulai 

 practice lias given r'ae to the appellation of butcher-bird. 



