PASSERES (PAEID^). 427 



food consists of lizards, mice, beetles, bees, and other insects. 

 The food, especially the insects, are impaled on thorns around 

 the nest, hence their com- 

 mon name "Butcher Bird.'' 

 Three others are found in 

 the summer, namely, the 

 Great and Lesser Grey 



Shrikes (L. excuhitor and Wil>'S<' 



minor), and the Woodchat ^* ' '*-'^' 



(L. pomeranus). The Fig. 228.— Head of Shrike. 



Butcher Bird is looked upon The Red-backed Shrike (Lanius collurio). 

 n , , J. , J. . 1 (Slightly enlarged.) 



as one 01 the larmer s inends ; 



but if one examines the larder of these birds one finds as 

 many beneficial and useful insects as injurious ones impaled 

 upon the thorns. 



The Tits (PABiDiE). 



This useful family of birds are often accredited with de- 

 stroying fruit-buds. If we examine the buds being attacked 

 by them, we shall find that they contain either some mite or 

 maggot, and thus they are doing us inestimable good. They 

 are all mainly insectivorous. The commonest species are 

 the Great Tit {Parus major) and the Blue Tit (P. cwruleus). 

 Both these birds peck the base of pears, and so do harm ; 

 but they may be kept from this in plantations by growing 

 sunflowers, so that they seed the time the pears are ripening. 



The Great Tit is more abundant in the south than the north. 

 It is extremely vicious, and its strong beak makes it a formid- 

 able enemy. It is said that it attacks other small birds, and 

 cracks their skull open to feed upon the brain. The chief food 

 consists of insects of various kinds, especially small larvfe and 

 pupae. Like all the Paridse, the great tit is an expert climber, 

 hunting for grubs as it progresses up and round the tree-trunk 

 and boughs. They make their nests in all manner of queer 

 places, the nest being lined with fur, hair, and feathers, and 

 contains as many as eight or nine small white eggs spotted 



