nil. As the Waxwings during their stay in the city feed mainly 

 on elm seeds and privet berries, the absence of these two plant 

 products is probably responsible for the absence of the birds. 



Habits of the Loggerhead. — It would be worth the while of the 

 members of the Natural History Society to watch the Logger- 

 head Shrike closely and try to get an accurate idea of how large 

 a proportion of its food consists of small birds. The Loggerhead 

 bears a bad reputation. He is supposed to slaughter many 

 sparrows, warblers, and other small birds ; and from this and from 

 his habit of impaling the bodies of his victims on thorns and 

 sharp twigs he has been given the name of "Butcher Bird." 

 The question is whether the Loggerhead is really as black as he 

 is painted. Does he kill small birds habitually or only on very 

 rare occasions? Does he really deserve the persecution to which 

 he is subjected? Isn't his bad reputation largely due to the fact 

 that he is close kinsman to the Northern Shrike, who is known 

 to be a villain? I have watched the Loggerheads in the city 

 carefully for more than ten years and not until Feburary 11 did 

 I ever see one play the cannibal. On that day the ground was 

 pretty well covered with snow and doubtless insect food was 

 scarce, and probably the Loggerhead that I saw devouring a Myrtle 

 Warbler had been pertty hard put to it to find any other food. 



If the members of the Natural History Society would report 

 to the Museum all that they can learn about the everyday food 

 of the Loggerhead and especially any instances that come to 

 their attention of Loggerheads killing or pursuing other birds, 

 it would throw light on an interesting subject. — H. R. Sass. 



NOTES FROM THE MUSEUH 



The Museum is open free to the public on week days from 10 

 to 6. Children unaccompanied by an adult are admitted only 

 on Saturdays. 



Recent improvements include a much needed partition be- 

 tween the carpenter shop and the rear hall, and chairs with ta- 

 blet writing arms for the classroom. 



41 



