246 . SOME COMMON LAND-BIRDS. 



this time of night; and that he hunted after other birds 

 were abed to take advantage of their habits. When he 

 arrived he did not dash in and give the alarm at once, but 

 entered quietly and low down where he could not be so 

 easily seen, waiting there till he had located his victims, 

 when he charged at them in such a way as to drive them 

 out into the open rather than through another clump of 



FIG. 52. CENTIPEDE IMPALED BY SHRIKE. 



cedars close at hand. Evidently he knew all about sparrow- 

 hunting, and I suspect that this was his regular night beat. 



There is a record of a shrike that killed two sparrows, and, 

 holding one in each foot, tried to pursue a third. It has been 

 somewhat disputed whether the shrike carries his prey in his 

 feet or in his bill, but young naturalists can easily settle that 

 for themselves by watching the bird. Besides, how do birds 

 always carry heavy weights ? and what reasons are there that 



