SHRIKES. 167 



c. The Shrikes have the cruelty of the Hawks, but not the 

 stateliness of some, nor the gracefulness of others. Neither 

 have they the charms of many passerine birds, for they are 

 wild, and, moreover, incapable of uttering musical sounds.* 

 Yet there is attached to them that interest which is naturally 

 attached to birds who differ so distinctly from others, and 

 about whom much is yet to be learned. 



The Great Northern Shrikes, or the well-known " Butcher- 

 birds," are virtually the sole representatives of their family in 

 New England. They breed in the forests of northern Maine,f 

 but in other parts occur principally as winter visitants, re- 

 maining near Boston from the first of October until April " or 

 even May." They vary greatly in abundance from year to 

 year, following, to a great extent, the migrations of our very 

 irregular visitors, the " Red-polls " and Pine Finches. 



While with us, they are usually to be seen singly or in pairs, 

 about farms, orchards, fields, and meadows, though so ex- 

 tremely bold as to take up their abode in the Public Garden 

 and on the Common of Boston, where they prey upon the 

 English Sparrows, and have several times been shot. When 

 on the watch for their prey, they take a percb not far from the 

 ground, and may be observed to flirt their tails much like the 

 Pewees, now and then taking low and rapid flights from bush 

 to bush, or from tree to tree, particularly if pursued. On de- 

 tecting what they wish to seize, they pounce upon it, if upon 

 the ground, or pursue it through the air, if it be a bird, with 

 force, great rapidity, and an almost infallible certainty of aim. 

 As their bills are particularly powerful, the muscles about 

 their head highly developed, and their feet naturally weak, 

 they use the latter solely for perching. They use their bills, 

 on the other hand, to seize the birds which they pursue, gen- 

 erally by the neck, thus suffocating them, and afterwards 

 to tear their flesh. 



* Herein Mr. Minot did the Butcher- the Great Northern Shrike is known to 

 bird injustice, for it has a really pleas- have ever been taken in any part of 

 ing- song-, not unlike that of the Brown New England, and there are now ex- 

 Thrasher, but more disconnected and cellent reasons for believing- that all 

 less loud and varied. — W. B. the New England Shrikes' nests which 



t Although this assertion has been have ever been reported were really 



frequently made, especially by the ear- those of L. excubitorides. — W. B. 

 lier writers, no fuilv identified nest of 



