PLATE XXXI. 



It vifits this country in the fpring and departs in autumn ; it is 

 common in France and Italy^ as well as in the temperate parts of 

 RmTia. 



It builds its neft in a hedge or low bufh, and lays fix white eggs, 

 encircled at the larger! end with a rufous brown circle ; it not only 

 feeds on infects, but will devour the young of other birds, taking hold 

 of them by the neck and ftrangling them, then tearing out the eyes, 

 brain, &c. and when fatisfied flicks the remainder on a thorn for 

 another meal ; when confined in a cage it will do the fame againft the 

 wires with beetles, grafhoppers, or pieces of fheep's kidney. 



It is faid to imitate well the notes of other birds, though it has none 

 of its own. 



D 2 PLATE 



