168 



L'SEITL I'.IROS 



THE GREAT NORTHERN SHRIKE; BUTCHER BIRD. 



A misconception regarding this bird prevails among many, a 

 mistake which is encouraged by its name and perhaps added to, 

 unfortunately, by the illustrations frecjuentlv seen, shc^wing the 

 bird with a captured sparrow. It is true, howe\'er, that he kills 

 s])arrows and other small l)irds. a fact evidently fully appreciated 

 b\- his intended victims, since a panic among them is caused by his 

 appearance, but he atones for this by killing and devouring field 

 mice, siirews. and injurious insects. It is to his credit, also, that 

 he is a persistent enemy of the English sparrow — a l)ird respon- 

 sible f(ir many ills and now recognized as one means of dispersal 

 of the much-dreaded San Jose scale- The great northern shrike 

 is common in our fields until late fall, sometimes as late as De- 

 ceml)er in the latitude of Minneapolis, and even later in the south- 

 ern part of the state, and recognized by his peculiar flight, close 

 to tlie ground, by his size and coloration. He is about 10^ inches 

 long, black, gray, and white. At times, he is something of a song- 

 ster. Amongst injurious insects captured, we might mention 

 grasshoppers and various cateri)illars. 



