228 
ANIMAL CURIOSITIES 
pouncing upon a victim as it returns to land 
with its pouch full of fish. 
Under the name of butcher birds are several 
members of the shrike family that have the 
somewhat unpleasant habit of impaling the 
carcases of their prey upon thorns (just as a 
human butcher would hang a joint of meat on 
a hook), in which situation they remain until 
the captors feel inclined to make a meal of 
them. 
Two species, namely the great grey-shrike 
and the red-backed shrike, are visitors to the 
British Isles. 
The former, which is about the size of a 
thrush and possesses black and white plumage, 
is known in some parts of England as the 
4 4 murdering-pie,” while in Germany it is called 
44 nuentedteo ” (nine-killer) owing to the belief 
that it always hangs up nine carcases in its 
larder before it commences to feed. Another 
name given to it in the latter country is that of 
44 suffocating angel,” but the reason for such 
a title is by no means clear, although it has 
been suggested by one writer that it is due to 
the fact that 44 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 great grey-shrike feeds chiefly upon 
