308 BIRDS — LANIID^. 



the mouse by the neck with the bill, pushed it upon a thorn, and after 

 it was impaled, struck it two or 'three blows by the bill on the head to 

 make its position secure; the thorn ran through the neck of the mouse. 

 It was only five or six feet from the nest in the same tree." He also says 

 that a friend once saw a Butcher Bird carrying a live garter snake in its 

 bill, which the bird adroitly fastened upon a thorn. After the snake was 

 impaled he took it still alive from the thorn. He examined several 

 mice and small birds impaled upon thorns in this manner, and thinks 

 that the Butcher Bird produces death by strangulation, as there were no 

 marks of violence upon them. 



In eastern cities these birds sometimes appear in considerable num- 

 bers, and prey upon the English Sparrows, and are so bold as frequently 

 to fly into houses and attack caged birds. With us, however, they con- 

 fine themselves to fields with solitai'y trees and fence rows. They 

 exhibit great curiosity when first they discover a human being, but this 

 is soon exhausted, and they become very shy and wary, "exhibiting a 

 tantalizing skill in evading capture. 



They have a habit of pursuing small birds for the sole purpose of an- 

 noying and terrifying them, and in so doing exhibit a considerable 

 acquaintance with their habits. Such birds as the Yellow-bird, they 

 attempt to drive into thickets and prevent from flying, by keeping con- 

 stantly above them, but such as naturally take refuge in low places, as 

 most Sparrows, they drive into the upper branches of trees, -following 

 them from branch to branch, but keeping always below them. When 

 engaged in this amusement, their actions strongly resemble those of the 

 Jay. 



Their flight is quick and varied, sometimes undulating and protracted, 

 and at others accomplished by quick short strokes of partially extended 

 wings, somewhat after the manner of the Spotted Sandpiper. When 

 pursued, they often fly low, taking advantage of trees, fences, or inequal- 

 ities of the ground for concealment. 



Their notes are singular, sometimes loud and shrill, when they have 

 been compared to the noise made by the creaking of a tavern sign ; at 

 other times finely modulated, and said, though the general appearance 

 of the bird doubtless suggests the comparison, to resemble the notes of 

 the Mocking-bird. They are also said to imitate the cries of other birds 

 in distress, for the purpose of decoying them. The nest of the Butcher 

 Bird is built in trees. It is large, and except the base of twigs and 

 stalks, is composed of soft mosses, stems, and grasses,- thoroughly felted 

 together, and lined abundantly with down and feathers. " The egg 

 measures 1.10 inches by .80, and is of a light greenish-ground, marbled 



