NATURAL HISTORY. 
117 
; 
The M f: R L I N, 
w HIGH is the Irnalleft of ha%vUs, 
and not much larger than a thrulii, has been 
known to kill quails and partklgcs, and dif- 
play fuch courage as to render itfclf as formi- 
dable as birds of fix-times' its magnitude. 
The female, like that of all birds of prey, 
is confiderably larger than the male. It was 
known to the ancients by the name of Lla- 
myfden. 
rhe GREATER BUTCHER BIRD. 
HIS bird leads a life of perpetual hof- 
tility. It is about the fize of a blackbird. — 
From its carnivorous appetite, it participates 
of the nature of birds of prey, while from 
its (lender legs, feet and toes, it partakes of 
the nature of thofe that live upon grain, in- 
fers, &c. 
When this bird has killed its prey, it 
hangs it upon a thorn, as a butcher hangs up 
a carca'fe, and pulls it to pieces with his bill. 
Its ufual food is fiuall birds, which it feizes 
by the throat, and firangles in an inftant. 
The okl and young feek their prey in concert. 
It is ten inches in length, fourteen inches 
broad, and three ounces in weight. The 
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