OBSERVATIONS ON CANADIAN BIRDS. 133 
Shrike, or Butcher Bird, so called from his habit of impaling his 
prey on thorns. With us this species appears about the end of Sep- 
‘tember, and a few adults remain over the winter. The male frequently 
makes cheice of a particular district as his hunting ground during 
his stay, ‘and Lam inclined to think returns to it, year after year. 
His aspect bespeaks both strength and courage, the short neck, broad 
head, and notched beak giving him much the appearance of a bird 
ot prey. His favourite food consists of grasshoppers and other in- 
sects, but in winter when these cannot be procured, he does not 
hesitate to hunt down the smaller finches, killing them with a blow 
of his powerful beak. In October last, when passing through an 
open field west of the race course, I noticed one of these birds, 
whose motions led me to suspect he was engaged in the occupation 
which has gained him his name; he was too shy to allow a close 
inspection of his operations, but on examining the thorn bush I 
found two of his victims still in life on thespikes. I did not observe 
anything which could lead to an explanation of this singular habit, 
except that he seemed to take great delight in the pastime, skipping 
about betweer the ground and the bush, and warbling a few rather 
musical notes in evident token of satisfaction. 
To those who have occasion to be in the woods in winter, there is 
no bird go familiar as the White Breasted Nuthatch ; it is one of the 
few which remain with us all the year round, and is remarkabie for 
its restless inquisitive habits ; as a climber it has no equal, and may 
often be seen running downward on the smooth bark of a perpen- 
dicular tree, a feat which no other Canadian bird ever attempts. An 
examination of its feet shows a remarkable adaptation for this pe- 
culiar habit. It is furnished with a long and strongly hooked hind 
claw which enables it to hang firmly in that position. It is said to 
roost head downward, and I have often seen it when shot, hanging in 
this position after death. The Red-breasted Nuthatch is another 
species of the same genus; it resembles the other, but is more mi- 
gratory in its habits,less in size, and slightly different in colour. 
The family of Woodpeckers is well represented in our woods, 
seven different species being observed. Of these the most common 
are the two spotted varieties, which resemble each other in colour, 
but differ considerably in size; they are partially migratory, only a 
few remaining during the winter. In the fall, when passing along 
to the south, they are frequently seen on the shade trees of the city, 
Vot. VI. K 
