igo TEXT-BOOK OF ZOOLOGY 



manner of a true beast of prey (see cat), the shrike goes on killing even 

 after it has satiated its appetite. According to popular belief, it always 

 kills nine animals before it begins its feast, and for this reason has been 

 called " nine-killer." To the pleasant songsters of our woods and gardens 

 the shrike is a terrible scourge, and therefore deserves to be exterminated. 

 It is very sensitive to meteorological influences. Hence it does not arrive 

 until the beginning of May, and leaves again at the beginning of August 

 (for Africa). 



Allied Species. 



The Great Grey Shrike (L. excubitor). — This bird is not one whit 

 less murderous in its habits than its red-backed relative, and being of 

 larger size (over 10 inches) and greater strength, it will even attack 

 partridges, quails, and thrushes. On its upper side it is bluish-grey, and 

 white on the under surface. There is a black eye-stripe ; the wings and 

 tail are black, with white spots. It visits England only in the winter, 

 but is resident in Holland and Germany all the year. 



Family 7 : Titmice (Paridae). 



The Great Titmouse (Parus major). 



(Length about 6 inches.) 



If during a severe winter we hang a piece of meat out of the window, 

 we may be sure of a great tit soon making its appearance. It is a very 

 handsome bird : the upper side yellowish-green ; the under surface 

 light yellow ; the top of the head, throat, and a stripe on the breast, 

 black. In the summer the titmouse fares better than in the winter 

 season, there being then no dearth of food, which consists chiefly of 

 insects and their eggs. The mere fact that it destroys by thousands 

 (much movement, therefore much food) the eggs of our most destructive 

 butterflies and moths — the Lackey (Gastropacha neustria) and others — 

 proves it to be one of our most useful birds. It is also specially fond of the 

 seeds of the, poppy, sunflower, etc. The legs are Bhort and strong, and pro- 

 vided with strongly-curved pointed claws, the birds being thus excellently 

 adapted for climbing up branches and clinging to the swaying crowns of 

 trees. They may even be frequently seen hanging upside down from the 

 tips of dry branches. By means of its short, conical beak it manages to 

 pull its food out of clefts and crevices, and to pick up the smallest 

 insects and insect eggs. If it fails in obtaining food in this manner, 

 it hammers loose a piece of bark after the manner of the wood- 



