144 



CASfiF.I.I.'S BOOK OF BIRDS. 



the hotly is light grey, the under side quite white, with the exception of the breast, which is slightly 

 tinged with pink ; the brow and cheek-stripes are black, the base of the quills is white, and the 

 remaining portion black ; the four centre tail-feathers are black, the next in order white upon the 

 lower half, with a dark spot upon the inner web, whilst those at the exterior are entirely pure white. 

 The eye is brown, the beak black, and the foot grey. The female is exactly like her mate ; but the 

 young are dirty white upon the brow, and yellowish white, striped with grey, upon the under surface. 

 The Black-browed Shrike is common in some parts of Europe, especially in Bavaria, Brandenburgh, 

 the south of France, Italy, and Turkey ; but is quite unknown or rarely seen in most other parts of 

 the Continent During its migrations it visits Central Africa ; we ourselves have seen it in the Nile 

 provinces as early as September, and have never observed it in Europe before May. According to 



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THE SENTINEL BUTCHER BIRD (LtZllius Excilbitor). 



Naumann, this species is by far the most lively and harmless member of its family ; its flight is light 

 and graceful, and its capacity for imitating the voice of almost any other bird unusually great. Its 

 food consists exclusively of beetles, butterflies, grasshoppers, and other insects ; 'it also devours larva? 

 and chrysalids in large quantities. When in pursuit of prey it shows great agility, and usually watches 

 its victims in the same manner as its congeners ; but, unlike them, it does not transfix its booty upon 

 thorns previous to devouring it. The nest, formed of hay, straw, wool, hair, and feathers, is placed 

 at the summit of a tree ; the eggs, six or seven in number, are greenish white, marked with brownish 

 or violet-grey spots and streaks. Both male and female co-operate in the work of incubation ; the 

 young are hatched within a fortnight ; they are reared upon insects, and defended with much courage 

 by their parents, who chase every feathered intruder to a distance, and will even venture down to 

 confront a man, should he approach too near the little family. Large numbers, however, in spite of 

 all their efforts, are destroyed by Hawks, Crows, and other formidable neighbours. 



