22 JOURNAL OF MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY 



Itrii NoteH. 



Notes and observations upon bird life within our State are earnestly desired from all our readers 

 for publication in this column, and should be sent to the Associate Editor, Frank T. Noble, Augusta, 

 Maine. 



We note with much .satisfaction the increasing frequency with 

 which the members of our society report to this Journal their 

 ornithological observations. This is an important part of our duties, 

 one to another, and should be shared in by all interested in bird 

 life. The Journal's columns are always open to contributors of 

 items of general interest relating to Maine birds, and we trust our 

 members will, through this medium, disseminate such knowledge as 

 they personally possess. 



A Captive Shrike. — One week ago a Shrike pursued a Spar- 

 row through an open window of our ofhce and into the room. The 

 instant the bird was inside it seemed to realize where it was, for it 

 turned and flew around my head and towards a closed window, where 

 it fluttered against the pane. I was sitting at my desk near this 

 window, and I jumped from my chair and grabbed it with both hands, 

 but not before it had given me an ugly pick on the finger and with 

 force enough to bring the blood. I held the Shrike until I procured 

 a box which had a piece of netting for the cover and into same I 

 placed it, where I had a fine chance to examine it closely. I 

 could not help but notice its ugly bill and claws, and also how 

 solid and thick it was through the chest. The bird seemed to be 

 in fine plumage. 



I carried the cage home, where my wife and two boys saw the 

 bird, to their delight, and after supper I took the cage to the door 

 and let it go, when it flew across the yard towards the Promenade. 



At different times last winter, I noticed a pair of these same 

 birds on the grounds of the house at the corner of Mountfort and 

 Fore streets, which is a great retreat for Sparrows during the cold 

 season. The boys in the office have seen, a number of times lately, 

 a white Sparrow in about this same locality. 



E. R. Wiley. 



Portland, Jan. 3d. 



