which, instead of devouring them at the time, it often 
impales upon thorns, where it leaves them until they are 
wanted. 
In the neighbourhood of the nest of this bird there is 
always a thorn-bush which is used as a “ larder,” and here, 
spiked upon the thorns, may be seen three or four lizards, 
half-a-dozen unfledged birds, four or five large caterpillars, a 
big beetle or two, and perhaps a humble bee. On account 
of this curious habit Shrikes are often known as “ butcher- 
birds,” and even such large creatures as blackbirds and 
thrushes are sometimes impaled by them. There is no 
difficulty whatever in discovering the “larder,” for the 
birds set up such a chattering and squal- 
ling if one comes anywhere near it, that . 
they reveal its where- =e) £- 
abouts to the most unob- 
servant passer-by. 
It is a some- 
what curious fact 
that when small 
birds are impaled 
in this way their 
