BIRDS OF KANSAS. 5 ID 



casions they keep up a peculiar crackling sound, mingled with 

 a sonorous 'Qua a-a, qua a-a. ' 



"The notes of this species are exceedingly varied; so much 

 so, in fact, that it is confounded by many people with the Mock- 

 ingbird, although this is, perhaps, as much on account of the 

 general similarity of their plumage as for any other reason. 

 Some of the notes are soft and musical, but most of them are 

 harsh, that most frequently heard resembling the creaking of an 

 ungreased wheelbarrow or rusty gate hinge. It is supposed 

 that it imitates the notes of smaller birds, in order to entice them 

 within reach. 



"When taken from the nest and reared in captivity, the Log- 

 gerhead Shrike makes a most atfectionate and interesting pet. 

 It becomes so perfectly tame as not to require the restraint of 

 a cage, but will follow its keeper about the fields, and seeks his 

 companionship with all the intelligence and devotion of a dog. 



"While watching for its prey, the Shrike occupies a promi- 

 nent perch, the summit of a small tree in the midst of a field or 

 common, sitting 'bolt upright' and scanning carefully the sur- 

 roundings in every direction. Its flight is very peculiar; on 

 leaving the perch it sinks nearly to the ground, describing a 

 curve as it descends, and passing but a few feet above the sur- 

 face, ascending in the same manner to the object on which it 

 next alights. The flight is performed in an undulating manner, 

 the bird sustaining itself a short time by a rapid fluttering of 

 the wings, and sinking as this motion is temporarily suspended. 

 While flying, the white patch on the wing is very conspicuous. 



''The very bulky nests of this species are usually placed in 

 thorny trees, or in those having a dense canopy of vines. At 

 Mount Carmel, however, I have frequently found them in apple 

 trees. They are composed largely of wool and feathers. When 

 built in young trees of the honey locust, where it is absolutely im- 

 possible to reach them by climbing, they are often poked from their 

 position out of spite by the ' small boy, ' with poles or fence rails. ' ' 



Their eggs, four to six in number, are similar in size, color 

 and form to the eggs of the White-rumped Shrike; in fact, can- 

 not be distinguished from them. 



