178 A DESCRIPTION OF 
THE LITTLE BUTCHER-BIRD, 
Called, in Yorkshire, Flusher, is about the size of a lark, 
with a large head. About the nostrils and corners of the 
mouth it has black hairs or bristles j and round the eyes a 
large black longitudinal spot ; the back and upper side of 
the wings are of a rusty colour; the head and rump 
cinerous ; the throat and breast white, spotted with red. 
It builds its nest of grass ; and the female lays six eggs, 
nearly all white, except at the blunt end, which is encir- 
cled with brown or dark red marks. The female is some- 
what larger than the male ; the head is of a rust colour, 
mixed with grey ; the breast, belly, and sides of a dirty 
white ; the tail deep brown ; the exterior web of the outer 
feathers white. Its manners are similar to the last named. 
It frequently preys on young birds, which it takes in the 
nest ; it likewise feeds on grasshoppers, beetles, and other 
insects. Like the larger Butcher-bird, it imitates the 
notes of other birds, in order the more surely to decoy 
them. When sitting on the nest, the female soon disco- 
vers herself at the approach of any person by her loud 
and violent outcries. 
