41 g NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



nest aud ep;j;.s of the European bird in view in his description. Wo know 

 of a single recent instance in which this bird has bred within the limits 

 of tlie United States, thougli it may breed in Northern and Eastei'n Maine. 

 Mv. Boardman spoke of it as conmion only in winter, near Calais, but 

 lie has since met witli its nest in New Brunswick, within twelve miles 

 (if St. Stephen. It was supposed by his informant to be the nest of the 

 Canada Jay, but pro\'ed, on shooting the parent, to be tliat of the North- 

 ern Shrike. When found, it contained four eggs, but these iiad hatched 

 out before it was secured. The nest was found on the last of April, and 

 was b^iilt in a low spruce-tree. Mr. Boardman has since seen these birds in 

 his neighborhood during the summer. Professor Verrill thinks it is only 

 common in the autumn and winter in Western Maine. In Western Massa- 

 chusetts, Mr. Allen cites it as not very common, but a regular winter visit- 

 ant, from the last of October to tlie middle of April. 



Mr. Kidgway met with it frequently in tiie neighborhood of Carson City 

 duiing the winter, among the willows bordering the streams that flow from 

 tlie mountains. Dr. Coues also found it as far south as Arizona, though 

 Jlr. Dresser did not meet with any in Texas, nor did Dr. Woodhouse notice 

 any in his expedition to the Zuni. Captain Feilner found this species com- 

 mon, in the colder months, in tlie northeastern portions of California, aud 

 Dr. Cooper gives it as abundant at the Columbia liiver in Octnber. 



Mr. Audubon further states that in severe winters he has met with it as 

 far south as Natchez on the Mississippi. It is also not uncommon in Ken- 

 tucky during the same season, but he never met with it near the seaboard. 



Mr. Kennicott's memoranda in refei'ence to this species are to the effect 

 tliat he oliserved one individual at Fort Simpson, September 23, and again 

 October 22, but on no other occasion. Both of these specimens, when first 

 observed, were singing. Their notes, he states, were low and irregular, but 

 were varied and quite musical. Captain Blakistou found these birds winter 

 residents on the Saskatchewan. 



In the fall and winter of 1871, a pair of these birds was attracted to the 

 Common, in Boston, by the large nunilier of half-domesticated European 

 Sparrows. For a while they made daily inroads upon these favorites, killing 

 one or more for several days in succession. They appeared to keep them- 

 selves secreted most of the time, showing themselves each day early in the 

 forenoon, and pouncing upon their victims, unaware of their near presence, in 

 the manner of a Hawk, aiming always at the heads, which were torn off and 

 devoured ; generally the headless remains were left uneaten. In one in- 

 stance where a Sparrow had lieen struck on the back, an ugly wound was 

 made, the bird escaped alive, and was soon after seen, in the middle of Tre- 

 mont Street, apparently not seriously injured. These Shrikes were so bold 

 and destructive that pains had to be taken to watch for and shoot them. 

 Three were killed, on different days, and each with a dead Sparrow in its 

 claws, upon which it was feasting when shot. 



