ONTARIO 



In Southern Ontario the httle Shrike is not found in the city 

 nor in the dense bush, its favorite haunts being along the roadsides 

 in the open country, where it ma}^ often be seen on a fence post 

 or on the telegraph wire by the railway track. My first acquaint- 

 ance with this bird at its home was made on one of my Satur- 

 day afternoon excursions, shortly after its first appearance in 

 this part of the country. While driving along a back road east 

 of thecit}', my attention was attracted by an ancient negro, who, 

 with a table fork fastened to the end of a fishing pole, w^as poking 

 vigorously into the centre of a very large, dense thorn-bush near 

 his shanty. Getting over the fence to find out what he was doing, 

 I was informed that a little Chicken Hawk had its nest in there 

 andthat it hadkilled twoof hisyoungchickens. Lookingalongthe 

 pole I saw in the heart of the dense bush a Shrike's nest with 

 some young ones, which one of the old birds was valiantlv 

 defenduig, biting at the end of the fork when it came too near 

 the youngsters. Taking the pole from his hand I worked it into 

 the bush, but it broke before I got it out which put an end for 

 the time to hostilities. I tried to convince my colored friend 

 that he was mistaken about the bird having killed his chickens, 

 for this kind lived only on grasshoppers and crickets, but he 

 insisted that it was a Chicken Hawk, giving emphasis to the name 

 by the use of several profane adjectives, and vowing he would have 

 him out before night, even if he should have to burn him out. 

 The appearance of the bush the next time I passed that way 

 indicated that he had carried out his threat. 



My opinion regarding the food of this species, which I gave 

 in good faith at the time, I have since had occasion to change, and 

 to believe that after all Sambo was probably right on the subject. 

 During the past twenty-five years no one could have gone a few- 

 miles into the country in any direction near Hamilton, during 

 June, July or August, without seeing one or more pairs of these 

 birds in suitable places, until the present year 1886, during which 

 not one has been observed. It may be that the exodus is only 

 local and temporary ; we shall watch for the birds wnth 

 interest next spring. 



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