SONG-BIRDS 



189 



(hence its common name, " butcher-bird "). From the summit of a tree 

 or bush the bird surveys its surroundings (sharp eyes), watching for a 

 large insect, a mouse, a frog, or small song-bird, and listening [sharp 

 ears) for anything astir that rouses its suspicion. It also mingles in the 

 society of other song-birds, by whom it 

 is probably mistaken for one of their 

 own number on account of its shape 

 and plumage (male : head and neck ash 

 grey, with a black eye-stripe, back and 

 wings rufous brown, belly white ; fe- 

 male : the brown predominating with- 

 out ash-grey colour on the head) . Being 

 capable of imitating the song of many 

 song-birds (mocking-bird), the latter are 

 rendered still less suspicious of its 

 real character. (This faculty of 

 imitating the 

 song of other 

 birds is, how- 

 ever, shared 

 by other quite 

 harmless 

 species ; see 

 starling.) Its 

 fir eat bodily 

 strength en- 

 ables it easily 

 1 overcome 

 its victim. 

 These it kills 

 with its beak, 

 which resem- 

 bles that of a 



bird of rvrpv Shrikes. (The bird in the foreground about four-ninths natural size.) 



(strong, the upper half of the beak bent over at the tip in the shape of a 

 hook, with a toothlike process on each side). With a few blows of its beak 

 it easily crushes in the skull of a song-bird, mouse, etc. In capturing 

 its prey it makes use of its long feet, which are equipped with sharply- 

 curved claws ; they are, however, not sufficient for holding fast the prey 

 whilst it is being torn to pieces. For this purpose the shrike impales its 

 victim upon a thorn, and then pulls it to pieces bit by bit. Hence the 

 bird only frequents places where thorny bushes are plentiful. After the 



13—2 



