New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-02-20
THE BUTCHER BIRD.
The Conservatory. Feb. 10. 1881.
From The ABanv Journal.

From The Albany Journal
At the last meeting of the Institute Mr. Verplanck
Colvin said that II might not be inappropriate, at
this time TO inform the Institute that the English
eparrow-whch has such an evil reputation n
b. saker of birds egRs-seems at length to have met
with destroyer, who, IL encouraged, may put an
end to the little pests or at least 80 diminish their
numbers as to render them few and less annoying,
This enemy of the sparrow has made its appear
auce within the limits of the CITY Of Albany. 1t is
the quick, brighteyed. vigorous and rare bird known
as the Shrike or Northern butcher bird lCoRnriO
BorcaHs VICILLD from his habit OF keeping his dead
prey in sort of miniature meat market.
Mr.. COlvin stated that few days since, while en-
gagged In writing. he beard q great cutlery and dis
turbance among the sparrows, and his attention was
Immediately called to tragioa scene being enacted
upon the snow in the garden without
A bird, in size aud appearance resembling mock
ing bird, hut of more vigorous movement. had saw
aRely seized upon sparrow, thrown it upon
the snow, understanding upon the sparrOw's back
delivered with its beak rapid series Of blows at
the base of the brain Of the sparrow which ceased
to struggle in a few moments.
the butcher-bird-fOr he 10 was-having made
of the death of the sparrow. sezed upon 1t and
flew rapidly away.
A few days afterward the shrike came again and
Killed other spaTrows, ana, becoming emboldened,
with an evident and laudabe intention of making
thorough work with the sparrows.
The butcheT-bird now became so bold that It was
possible to follow him around and notice his habits
and methods. IL has been said to DO the habit of
this bird to the large thOrns Of the thorn bush
for the purpose of mpaling its collections of dead
birds and insects; II was now, therefore closely
watched to see what it would do where there were
no thorn bushes.
1t was observed to seize upon and destroy a spar
row, carrying 1t away into tree Soon it came back
and captured another sparrow killed 1t and carried
1t off to distant portion Of the garden-which is
large and filled with trees Anxious to mere closely
observe its methods, Mr.. Colvin brought an opera
glass to bear upon the bird. Some plum trees
growing. III the garden. possessed sharp
spines almost equal to thorns, and it seemed
possible that the butoher-bird might en-
deavor to impale the dead bird on these
thoIns The thorns were too dull. however, but the
bird certainly far from dull. and quite canal TO
the occasion, for choosing tree In which the small
stiff twiRs separated at a narrow angle. in sets OF
three. he would deftly punch ha sparrow between
the twiRs, sprnging them apart 30 that the dead
bird was held tightly thus, with his neatly-ar-
ranged little market of sparrows, showing himself
fully entitled to his name of butcher-bird."
He was bold, also, in defence of his property and
when too closely approached by the observer with
his field glass; would bend forward on his perch, de-
family only eight or ten feet OIL. but il too closely
approached, would commence to carry away his
sparrows to some elevated tree, where he would
arrange them safely in other tripod crotches among
tho twigs. His methods were very interesting. but
he at length ate up nearly all the sparrows-or
frightened them away-and has himself not been
for some days, being probably in pursuit of the
retIeatlng enemy.