AROUND THE OLD BARN 



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small tree and wonder what that gray and black bird, 

 who is sitting there so motionless, can be. He is too 

 small for a Hawk, though there is something hawk-like 

 about his head. He is altogetlier too large for a Chick- 

 adee ; not the rigiit shape for a Woodpecker ; and after 

 thus thinking over the most familiar winter birds, you 

 will find that you only know what he is not. 



North KRN Shrikk. 



"Suddenly he s])reads his wings and swoops down, 

 seizing something on or near the ground — a mouse per- 

 haps, or a small biid — let us hope one of the detestable 

 English Sparrows. ( )r else you may see this same bird, 

 ill the gray and black uniform, peep cautiously out of a 

 bush and then skim along close above the ground, to 

 secure the field-mouse he has been watching ; for the 



