LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE 299 



marked like those of the Mocker, with white. 

 The Shrike has also a distinctive flight. It moves 

 along- evenly, flapping its short wings and holding 

 its head up. When perching on a telegraph wire, 

 as it often does, its large head and quiet, preoccu- 

 pied manner are also totally different from the 

 round head and restless ways of the talkative 

 Mocker. 



Where the honey locust or the spiny thorn 

 trees grow the Shrike is found ; for it not only 

 hides its nest in thorn bushes, but uses the thorns 

 for impaling its prey. What the reason for this 

 custom may be is not certain, but it is probably 

 a phase of the storing instinct seen in Jays and 

 Woodpeckers. The birds take what the gods 

 provide at the moment, and put it away against 

 a possible time of need. Bachman says he has 

 seen the Loggerhead occupy itself for hours hang- 

 ing up small fish the fishermen had thrown on 

 shore. But though the bird did not return for 

 them, that proves nothing, for at the moment there 

 was probably plenty of fresh food to be had. 



In cruelty and pride of disposition the Shrikes 

 resemble the Hawks, as they do in their way of 

 lying in wait to pounce on their victims and tear 

 them to pieces with their strong hooked beaks. 



The Loggerhead in summer lives almost exclu- 

 sively on insects, mainly grasshoppers ; but in 

 winter, when these are scarce, it becomes carniv- 

 orous, taking to a diet of mice. 



