PERCHERS: SHRIKES AND VIREOS. 77 



upon the wing, skimming over fields and ponds, catch- 

 ing small insects, which constitute their food. One 

 kind builds its nest upon the rafters in the barn, and 

 is called the Barn Swallow; another builds its nest 

 under the eaves, and is called the Eave Swallow ; an- 

 other under cliffs, and is called the Cliff Swallow ; an- 

 other digs a hole in a sandbank for its nest, and is 

 called the Bank Swallow ; and the Purple Martin comes 

 and makes its nest in the Martin-houses which we place 

 for it near our dwellings. Some persons suppose that 

 these birds, which require air and sunshine as much as 

 we do, spend the winter in the mud at the bottoms of 

 ponds ! 



SHRIKES AND VIREOS. 



The Shrike, or Butcher-Bird, is about as large as a 

 robin, of a bluish color, with black wings and tail. 

 Although belonging to the song-birds, it is a hawk in 



Fig. 126. Shrike, or Butcher-Bird. 



its disposition, preying upon sparrows, warblers, and 

 other small birds, as well as upon insects. It often 

 imitates the cries of other birds, perhaps to call them 

 from the trees and bushes, that it may get a chance 

 to seize one of their number. It is called Butcher- 

 Bird from its habit of impaling or hanging up its prey 



