Class II. GREAT SHRIKE. 273 



black, one inch long, and hooked at the end ; 

 the upper mandible furnished with a sharp pro- 

 cess : the nostrils are oval, covered with black 

 bristles pointing downwards : the muscles that 

 move the bill are very thick and strong, which 

 makes the head very large. This apparatus is 

 quite requisite in a species whose method of Manners. 

 killing its prey is so singular, and whose manner 

 of devouring it is not less extraordinary : small 

 birds it will seize by the throat, and strangle ;* 

 which probably is the reason the Germans call 

 this bird JViirchangeI,-\ or the suffocating angel. 

 It feeds on small birds, young nestlings, beetles 

 and caterpillars. When it has killed the prey, 

 it fixes them on some thorn, and when thus 

 spitted pulls them to pieces with its bill : on this 

 account the Germans also call it Thorntrder and 

 Thonrfreker. We have seen them, when con- 

 fined in a cage, treat their food in much the 

 same manner, sticking it against the wires be- 

 fore they would devour it. Mr. Echvarcls very 

 justly imagines that as nature has not given 

 these birds strength sufficient to tear their prey 

 to pieces with their feet, as the hawks do, they 

 are obliged to have recourse to this artifice. 



It makes its nest with heath and moss, lining ^'^st, 

 it with wool and gossamer, and lays six eggs, 



* Edio. Gl. iii. 233. t ^Vil orn. 87. 



VOL. I. T 



