174 
thein within its reach, that it may destroy 
them ; excepting this, his natural note is the 
same throughout all seasons. When kept in 
a cage he is always mute. 
It may be seen perched upon the extremi- 
ties of the highest and most isolated branches 
of trees and bushes ; which position appears 
necessary to the bird, in order that it may 
rise into the air, or precipitate itself without 
obstacle upon its prey. The mode of seising 
its prey by the throat as before stated to be 
peculiar to this genus, has obtained in Ger- 
many (to this species in particular) a name 
signifying " J he Suffocating Angel while 
from its singular propensity of spitting them 
on thorns, the English settlers in America 
have given it the name of Nine-killer, from a 
superstitious supposition that it invariably 
sticks up nine Grasshoppers or other insects 
in succession. 
The muscles that move the beak of this 
bird are thick and strong, which makes the 
head very large. This apparatus is quite re- 
quisite in a species whose method of killing 
its prey is so singular, and w hose manner of 
devouring- it. is not less extraordinary. 
