THE GKEAT SHKIKE, OK, BTJTCHEE-BIKD. 
by divisions into families and snb-families with wonderful 
names, and are bandied abont from one system to another, like 
one shuttlecock among a dozen battledores, or one mouse among 
as many cats. It is fortunate for the peace of mind of the 
shrikes that they live in ignorance of their own unsettled state.” 
The names by which the shrike is known are as various as 
the “ systems ” to which it is specially referred. In some parts 
of England it is called the “ murdering pie ;” “ pie,” because 
the varied lights and shades of its plumage give it somewhat 
of a pied appearance ; “ murdering,” for obvious reasons. In 
Germany it is called “ neuntedteo,” or “ nine killed,” because of 
a vulgar belief that until it has seized and hung up nine car- 
casses, it will not begin to feed. In the latter country it is also 
known as the “ suffocating angel ;” why, it is impossible to say, 
unless the wickedness of the bird’s ways has rendered it fit for 
comparison with the original fallen angel in his suffocating 
and sulphuric domain. 
The mention of “ killing and hanging up ” reminds me that 
nothing before has been said, in this notice of the butcher-bird, 
in reference to this, its chief peculiarity. Having captured a 
sparrow, or other winged victim, the “ butcher’s ” first act is to 
find a convenient thorn, on which he dexterously hooks the little 
body — as a human butcher hangs up a sheep — and then de- 
liberately tears it to bits with his strong bill, and devours it. 
When a bird has been given to a caged butcher-bird, it will 
jamb its head or legs through the bars so as to make it hang, 
and if it be furnished with more than enough for a single meal, 
it will hitch the scrap to any little projection it may find, as 
provision for to-morrow. Mr. Solley relates, that he one day 
saw a great shrike flying about with a hedge-sparrow in its 
bill, evidently looking for a hook to hitch it to ; it succeeded, 
for, passing the spot shortly afterwards, there was the poor 
sparrow neatly suspended and ready for the shrike’s eating. 
One of this family, found in South Africa, exhibits this 
hanging-up propensity in even a greater degree than its Euro- 
pean cousins. It hunts, hungry or full, from morning till 
night, and impales everything it captures through the head. 
Le Vaillant, who was an eye-witness to the manners of the 
winged butcher of Africa, was informed by the Hottentots that 
the bird has no relish for fresh food, and for that reason hangs 
his carcasses till they are sufficiently “ high ” to please his 
palate. He is such a wanton slaughterer, however, that a 
rather curious circumstance arises through this venison taste 
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