birds of the rapacious class: though the slenderness of its legs, and the formation of its toes, seem to make it a shade between them and such as subsist chiefly upon grain and insects. The head, back, and rump are ash coloured, but the chin and belly white. Dark lines, crossing each other, vary the breast, and lower part of the throat. The tips of the wing feathers are for the most part white.-The habits of this bird seem perfectly analogous to its conformation, as it lives as well upon flesh as upon insects, and thus seems to partake, in some measure, of a double nature. His name of Nine Killer he derives from the popular belief that he catches small birds to the number of nine, and impales them on a thorn, before he begins to tear them to pieces to satisfy his hunger. The fact is, that he pays no such attention to the regularity of number, but, being a bold bird, capable of killing much bigger birds than himself, he hangs his prey on a thorn, as a butcher does a beast on a hook, that he may dissever it with more convenience to himself.

The nest of the female, which is built among thorny shrubs and dwarf trees, is composed on the outside of white moss interwoven with long grass, and the interior is comfortably lined with wool. The female lays five or six eggs. It is also worthy of remark, that instead of driving out their young, like other birds of prey, to shift for themselves, they keep them with care, and even when adult they do not forsake them, but the whole brood live in one family together, till on the returning season of courtship they separate, each to establish a little household of its own.

The Little Butcher Bird, which is called a FLUsher, is about the size of a lark, and has a large head. The back and upper side of his wings are of a rusty colour; the throat and breast white, with red spots, and the head and rump cinereous. The nest of this bird is formed of grass, and the female lays six eggs, nearly all white, except at the blunt end, which is encircled with brown or dark red marks.

OF Owls there are about fifty species, of which, however, it is not necessary here to notice more than three; the Great Horned or Eagle Owl, the White Screech Owl, and the Brown Owl. It has not unaptly been said of these birds that they are to falcons that which moths are to butterflies; as, generally speaking, they prey only in the night time, while the falcon never preys but in the day. The head of the Owl is round, somewhat like that of a cat, of which animal, indeed, the bird has all the mice-destroying propensities. The eyes also of the Owl, like those of the cat, are so constructed that its visual faculties are far more perfect in the dusk than in the glare of day. Owls retire in the winter to holes in old walls and towers, and pass the inclement season in sleep. In most countries the owl is foolishly considered as a bird of ill omen, but it was anciently courted by the Athenians, and regarded as the favourite bird of Minerva.

The GREAT HORNED EAGLE, which, though rare in this country, is a native of most parts of Europe, Asia, and America, takes up its abode in inaccessible rocks

and desert places, and is equal in size to some of the eagles. It possesses a stronger sight than any other of the Owl tribe, and, in consequence, is sometimes seen pursuing its prey in open daylight. To its offspring it is very affectionate, and if they are taken from the nest and confined, it will assiduously supply them with food. This, however, it accomplishes with such secrecy and sagacity, that it is almost impossible to detect it in the act. The wings of this bird are long, and its tail is short, and marked with transverse dusky streaks. Its legs, which are thick, are of a brick-dust red hue, and, except in one variety, are feathered quite down to its large, hooked, and dusky claws. The body is of a tawny red colour, prettily variegated with brown, ash, and rust coloured spots. Of Horned Owls there are twenty species, and the name is derived from the long feathers which surround the opening of the ears, and bear a resemblance to horns.

The WHITE or SCREECH OWL is common in England, where it frequents churches, old houses, and uninhabited buildings. The singular cry which it emits during its flight, and which weak persons cannot hear without terror, is the source of its name. As its sight is very defective during the day, it never, if it can avoid it, begins its predatory excursions till twilight. If, by any chance, it is seen in the daytime, it is pursued and tormented by all the smaller birds. The plumage of this species has much elegance; all the superior parts of the body being of a fine pale yellow, mottled with white spots, while the under parts are entirely white, and a circle of soft white feathers surrounds each of the eyes. The legs are feathered to the claws. The sense of hearing in the Screech Owl is very acute. Since the time of

Genghis Khan the Mongal and Kalmuc Tartars have held the White Owl sacred, in consequence of one of the species having settled on a bush under which the

prince hid himself from his enemies after a defeat. The pursuers passed the bush, but did not examine it, as they imagined that a bird would not have perched where a man was concealed.

The BROWN OWL, which is also common in England, is rather more than a foot in length. The breast is of a pale ash colour, marked with dusky, longitudinal streaks, and the head, wings, and back are spotted with black. Round the eye is an ash coloured circle, spotted with brown, This is a very rapacious bird, and frequently commits great depredations in pigeon-houses. It breeds in ruined buildings and hollow trees, and, in defence of its young, will attack even mankind with great courage. Mice are among their favourite articles of food, and they skin them with as much dexterity as a cook maid skins a rabbit.

Of all other birds the Cock seems to have been first reclaimed from the forest, and taken to supply the accidental failure of the luxuries or necessities of life. As he has thus been longest under the care and protection of man, so of all others he seems to exhibit the greatest number of varieties; there being scarcely

two birds of this species that exactly resemble each other in form and plumage. The tail, which makes such a beautiful figure in the generality of these animals, is entirely wanting in some; and the feathers, which lie so sleek and regular in most of those we are acquainted with, are in a peculiar breed all inverted, and stand the wrong way.

In his native state of independence, as seen in the woods on the coast of Malabar, and in many islands of the Indian ocean, the plumage of this bird is black and yellow, and his comb and wattles are yellow and purple; and it is peculiarly worthy of observation that the bones of this species, when boiled, are as black as ebony. The varieties noticed above, with many others too tedious for enumeration, may be considered as indubitable marks of long captivity.

No animal has greater courage than the Cock when opposed to one of his own species, and in every part of the world where refinement and polished manners have not entirely taken place, the brutal diversion of Cock fighting is a favourite sport. In China, India, the Phillipine Islands, and all over the East, it is delighted in even by kings and princes.-This bird is very attentive to his females, and sometimes perfectly infuriate in defence of his offspring. A young one has been known to dart on a sparrow-hawk, and to hold down the rapacious intruder till assistance came to secure him.

The Hen seldom clutches a brood of chickens above once a season, though instances have been known to the contrary. Provided, however, she be well fed and supplied with water, she will lay upwards of two hundred eggs in the course of a year. During the period of incubation nothing can exceed her patience and perseverance; and when her little offspring are produced, her pride and her affection seem to alter her very nature, and render her equally bold and abstemious on their account, though naturally timid and voracious.