A Shrike and Its Prey 293 



I doubt, the talons were used, I cannot think that death would always be so 

 instantaneous. From my observations, I am inclined to think that the Shrikes' 

 assault is practically a 'buff' in the small of the back. At least I will vouch 

 for one small fact, and that is, that I ha\-e never seen the smallest flutter from 

 the Sparrow from the time of the stroke being given. 



Reaching the ground with a spiral glide, the Strike is there almost as soon 

 as his victim, whom he seizes by each shoulder, and heavily laden, with the 

 body pendent (this in every instance), wings his low flight to a convenient 

 feeding-perch. 



The secjuel to a successful foray of this kind is illustrated in the photo- 

 graph, and took place immediately outside of my dining- window. The Spar- 

 row's head was fitted into a small fork of a branch, and when this was suc- 

 cessfully accomplished the Shrike proceeded to pluck his prey, and then to 

 devour it Avith considerable speed. I feel sure that twenty minutes sufficed 

 for the entire proceeding. I was amazed to find not one trace of a bone or 

 even a claw on the unbroken snow-bank at the foot of the small elm in which 

 the bird fed. 



After the head had served its purpose as an anchor, it too was devoured; 

 nothing, indeed, but the merest shred of skin being left. 



So bold was the 'butcher-bird' that he allowed me within six feet, to take 

 the pictures; and, though he did once leave his prey, he returned immediately, 

 to finish his repast. The thermometer stood at 25 degrees below zero, Fahr., 

 at the time. 



I hold the cheering idea that it must take two Sparrows per diem to satisfy 

 an able-bodied Shrike. 



Notes on Birds of the Red River Sand-bars 



By F. B. ISELY, Tonkawa. Okla. 

 With photograph by the author 



DURING July and August, 19 10, the writer and two assistants made a 

 mussel survey for the U. S. Bureau of Fisheries of the Texas-Okla- 

 homa and Arkansas portion of the Red River. Over four hundred 

 miles of the river were traversed, working down-stream by boat from the 

 mouth of Wichita River to the east line of Texas. 



Bird observation was, of course, a very incidental matter; but, as a number 

 of species not commonly met with in garden, forest, and field were so constantly 

 before us during the eight weeks of our trip, a few observations concerning 

 some of these birds may be of interest. 



One of the most common birds, especially of the first part of our trip down 

 the river, was the Least Tern. These swallow-like birds would fly back and 

 forth over our boats for hours, constantly squeaking and chattering. Some- 



