169 
cliUv'of flight obliges the bird to endeavour to 
raise itself in the air over its prey, so that it 
m ay pounce upon and strike it to the earthy 
where it instantly seizes it by the throat and 
strangles it. * \ 
Thrushes, Blackbirds* and other small birds; 
are its common prey. When his prey is dead; 
he fixes it on some thorn ; and when thus 
spitted, tears it to pieces with his beak. From 
this circumstance it has received the name 
of Butcher-bird. They likewise feed on ii> 
gjjfclKtf"! . "p: *>.; : »t 'v:'. in v'iic $wd$, t mio 
Though these birds are small, and of a 
delicate make* it is astonishing with what in- 
trepidity they attack the Magpie* the Crow, 
&c. They not only act on the defensive* but 
sometimes even commence the action, and are 
in general successful in the rencounter, espe- 
cially when the patents unite to drive birds of 
prey to a distance from their nest. For if 
these chance to fly near their retreats, the 
Shrikes rush upon them with loud cries, inflict 
terrible wounds, and force them to retire with, 
little inclination to repeat the virit. 
In France they are more frequent than 
with and Bufibu observes, that "nothing 
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