634 
BIRD-LIFE. 
cautious, warning other animals of danger; hence its 
name of “ Watchman.” Its loud cry of “shaik, shaik,” 
acts as an alarm-note to other birds, in every sense, for 
they themselves are forced to keep out of its way. Its 
usual food is insects, especially beetles and grasshoppers ; 
it will, however, also seize on field-mice, small birds, 
frogs, and lizards. My father has seen the Butcher-bird 
kill a Blackbird, which is larger than itself! Aye, its 
boldness is such that it will attack the fowler’s decoy- 
birds, and Partridges which may happen to be frozen 
fast in the snow-drifts, destroying them if it can. In 
spite of this, small birds do not stand so very much in 
awe of the Butcher-bird after all, often perching near 
him without any sign of fear: it would seem as though 
they could not believe so fine a songster to possess 
habits so predatory. In the summer, too, it must be 
said that this bird feeds principally upon insects, except 
when some young “ flyer,” an awkward nestling, or 
incautious mouse, rouses its greed. It either swoops 
down like a Falcon on one of these, or, hovering for 
a moment, darts upon its quarry and kills it. It devours 
its prey, like many others of the same family, in a 
singular manner. It does not seize the victim in its 
claws, like a Hawk, but carries it in its beak and claws 
alternately, to some tree or bush, when it is spitted on 
a thorn or pointed branch and torn to pieces. This 
singular mode of proceeding has earned it the soubriquet 
of “ Thorntwister.” 
The Gray Shrike lives at deadly feud with all birds of 
prey: it dashes furiously at either Eagle or other Owls, 
chases Crows with loud cries, and will not even leave the 
Buzzard or Eagle in peace. Its courage surpasses its 
strength, but always ensures a certain result. During 
