122 
OUR BIRDS IN WINTER. 
ing their victims on 
thorns, and leaving 
them for days at a 
time, unless they kill 
them out of wanton 
destructiveness, and 
having no appetite 
to eat them, leave 
them until tliey de- 
cay. What do you 
think of it, Mr. 
Wren ? ” he asked, 
of one of the others : you see more of those 
birds than we, and know more of their habits.” 
To tell you the truth,” replied Wren, I 
haven’t quite made up my mind, but have 
about concluded that they do it as a sort of 
provision for future wants. Many of you 
have, doubtless, seen the Blue Jays save up 
chestnuts and acorns in crevices in the bark 
of trees, for this purpose, and why shouldn’t 
the Shrikes do the same ? ” 
It seems, however, to be more of an in- 
stinctive than rational act ; for I have known 
Shrike and his Victim. 
