NORTHERN SHRIKE 



139 



Fig. 30. Northern Shrike 



others. It arrives in October, and leaves towards the end 

 of March. Each Shrike, on its arrival from the north, 

 apparently settles for the 

 winter in a fixed region, 

 which becomes its regular 

 huntinfj-ground. Here one 

 finds, during the winter, 

 mice, small birds, and grass- 

 hoppers wedged in the forks 

 of low trees or bushes, or im- 

 paled on thorny twigs, and 

 occasionally a Shrike is seen dashing at a flock of frightened 

 birds, and pursuing its victim till it is exhausted and caught. 

 At other times it perches on the top of some tree or bush. 



The Shrike sings occasionally all through the winter, but 

 more often in February and March. The song is a medley 

 of harsh calls, mews, and screams, never very loud, inter- 

 spersed with some rather sw^eet notes ; it suggests the song 

 of the Catbird. Its call-notes are extremely harsh and grating. 



A Shrike in adult plumage is unmistakable. Young birds 

 lack the bright black and white of the adults, but they may 

 be recognized by their rather plump look, habit of tilting the 

 tail on alighting, and by the characteristic flight, two or 

 three rapid wing strokes, followed by a scaling flight on set 

 wings. A close inspection will show the heavy bill with 

 its hooked tip. (See Mockingbird, p. 96, and Migrant 

 Shrike, p. 138.) 



WAXWINGS, ETC.: FAMILY AMPELIDiE 



Cedar Waxwixg ; Cedar-bikd. Arnj^elis cedrorum 



7.19 



Ad. $ . — Head and throat rich snuff-color, fading into grayish- 

 brown on the back and breast; under parts yellowish; wings and 

 tail ash-gray; tail tipped with yellow j shorter wing-featbers often 



