58 
INSESSORES. 
from any other member of the group. The absence 
of the long expansive tail, which adds so much grace 
to the motions of other species, and its peculiarly 
short, clumsy figure, are very apparent. It, however, 
possesses in a very high degree the carnivorous and 
rapacious propensities of its tribe, living mostly upon 
frogs, lizards, and other reptiles. It appears to be 
rather a scarce bird, and quite difficult to procure on 
account of its shyness. Specimens are therefore sel- 
dom seen in our cabinets. 
The Shrikes in many respects closely resemble the 
Jays. With the exception of the head and bill, in 
general form they are not unlike; in manners and 
habits they still more closely agree, and although 
some naturalists have assigned them a place imme- 
diately following the Hawks, in consequence of the 
shape of the head, being broad and stout, and also 
the hooked form of the bill, yet the other character- 
istics by which the genera are determined are unques- 
tionably in favor of their position being near the Crow 
family. 
The G-reat American Shrike, or Butcher Bird, is 
more than a match for the Blue Jay in cruel rapac- 
ity. Its food consisting almost exclusively of large 
insects, birds, and the smaller quadrupeds, it has 
attained the reputation of being an expert hunter, 
seizing upon its prey with great dexterity, much after 
the manner of the Sparrow Hawk. It is said to pos- 
sess the faculty of imitating the notes of other birds, 
especially such as are indicative of distress, which it 
does no doubt for the purpose of decoying them 
