SHRIKE. 92 



of each other ; they agree well enough together, but as soon as a 

 Crow, or even an Eagle, appears, all within reach are said to join 

 together, and attack the enemy at once, never desisting till he retires 

 to some distance. 



Mr. Abbot, however, gives an account somewhat different ; for 

 one of these having built its nest on the outside of a lofty pine in 

 Georgia, whilst he was considering how to obtain the eggs, a Crow 

 settled on the branch, and began to break and suck them, and 

 displace the nest, appearing all the while unconcerned, notwithstand- 

 ing both the cock and hen continued flying at, and striking with 

 their bills; but as soon as the Crow had completed the robbery it 

 departed. This bird is known in Georgia by the name of Bee- 

 Martin ; arrives the 8th of April, and is soon scattered in pairs all 

 over the country ; in the summer two or three pairs inhabit the side 

 of a pond ; the nest composed of wool, and dried stalks of flowers, 

 lined with fine fibres of roots and horse hair; the eggs reddish white, 

 or blush-colour, generally five, marked from the larger end to the 

 middle with irregular ferruginous purple spots, and others of light 

 brown, several of them confluent. 



In St. Domingo these birds are called Titiri, or Quicquiri, from 

 the cry, which resembles these words ; the first called Black-headed, 

 or Great-billed Pipiri, the second Yellow-headed Pipiri, or Pipiri of 

 Passage. They are said to differ in manners; the first, though in 

 plenty, seldom seen but in pairs; the second in great troops, about 

 the month of August, when they are very fat, and killed in great- 

 numbers for the table, as their flesh is thought good. 



From their ferocious manner, especially whilst the hen is sitting, 

 they have been called by some King Birds. They have no song ; 

 build twice in a season ; feed on bees in quantity, and numerous other 

 insects, also on berries. Young birds have not the orange head the 

 first season.* 



* Amer. Orn. 



