OUR HOME BIRDS. 
299 
daslies past, unconscious of the watchful foe, who 
seizes him like a flash of lightning. 
“ 4 Having felled his quarry with a single blow, 
he returns to his fence-post and eats the brains — 
rarely more — or perhaps does not taste a single bill- 
ful, but impales the body upon a thorn or hangs it 
in an angle of the fence, as a butcher suspends his 
quarters of beef. It used to be thought this mur- 
derer thus impaled nine captives and no more ; so 
he was christened 44 nine-killer ;” the bookmen labelled 
him Collurio borealis ; we know him as the butcher- 
bird. He is the Arctic brother of the shrikes, and 
the boldest, bravest, noblest, and wickedest of his 
savage race/ ” 
44 What a dreadful bird !” exclaimed Clara. 44 1 
should run away if I saw one.” 
44 For fear "of his hanging you on a thorn ?” laughed 
Malcolm. 44 Why, you are ever so many times as 
large as he is.” 
44 He is only dangerous, dear, to the poor little 
birds,” said her governess kindly, 44 though he will 
attack even the hawk or eagle in defence of his 
young; and all the birds respect him for his cour- 
age and resolution, and much prefer not having any 
contest with him. He is particularly fond of grass- 
hoppers, and sometimes several of these insects will 
be found killed and stuck on the thorns of some bush 
