34 C. H. Merriam — Birds of Connecticut. 



polls or the Pine Finches are common, the Shrikes follow them and 



prey upon them." During the winters of 1874-5 and 1875-6, when 



theKed-polls (JEgiothvs linwia) and the Pine Finches (Chrysomitris 



pi mis) were here, Butcher Birds were notably scarce ; while during 



the past winter (1876-7) Shrikes have been uncommonly plenty, but 



neither of the other birds were seen at all. It is but fair to state, 



however, that during the first two winters mentioned neither the 



Linnets nor Finches were here in large enough numbers to have afforded 



the Butcher Birds a reliable source of diet. Last winter the English 



Sparrows supplied all deficiencies and it was no uncommon thing to 



see a Butcher Bird flying across the street with one in its talons. 



The "poor sparrows," unused to danger of any sort, were utterly 



helpless, and at one time it seemed as if we were actually going to be 



rid of the little pests, but warm weather came to their relief, driving 



the intruders back to their boreal homes, and now the sparrows are 



apparently as numerous as ever they were. Mr. Nichols shot one 



Jan. 13th, 1876, whose stomach contained grasshoppers! Where 



could it have found them at that season ? 



75. Collurio LudoviciailUS (Linne) Baird. Loggerhead Shrike. 



A rare visitor from the South and West. Mr. W. W. Coe has a 

 fine specimen of this species in his cabinet, which he shot near Port- 

 land, Conn., in Nov., 1876. Franklin Benner, Esq., writes me that he 

 " saw a Shrike of some species at Mt. Carmel [near New Haven] May 

 24th, 1873," which, if he was not mistaken in the bird, could hardly 

 have been the northern Butcher Bird, and might have been this 

 species. 



Family, FRINGILLID^E. 



76. Pinicola eilUCleator (Linne) Cabanis. Pine Grosbeak. 



An irregular winter visitant. They were here through the months 

 of Feb. and Dec, 1875, and during Jan. and Feb., 1876, but none 

 were seen last winter. Messrs. Coe and Sage, of Portland, Conn., 

 tell me that it is found there regularly every winter, though the red 

 males are not always seen, and that they have observed it as late as 

 March 12th (1873), and as early as Nov. 24th (1875, and 25, 1874). 



77. CarpodaCUS purpureUS (Gmelin) Gray. Purple Finch. 



Resident, breeding abundantly. Gregarious. Mr. Grinnell in- 

 forms me that he has taken it during every month of the year. Dr. 



