FEEDING HIS MATE. 53 



fence, apparently to inquire into my business, 

 when his eyes fell upon something desirable — 

 from his point of view. Instantly he dropped 

 to the road, picked up a black object, worm or 

 beetle, an inch long, and took it at once to his 

 mate. Sometimes he carried his prey to a post, 

 and beat it a while before presenting it to her ; 

 and one evening, somewhat later than usual, he 

 was found industriously gleaning food from the 

 hosts of the air, flying up in the manner of a 

 flycatcher, and to all appearance with perfect 

 success. 



The loggerhead shrike is one of our most 

 beautiful birds, clear blue-gray above, and snowy 

 white below. His black wings are elegantly 

 marked with white, and his black tail, when 

 spread like a fan, as he wheels to alight, show- 

 ing broad tips and outer feathers of white, is 

 one of his most striking marks. He is a little 

 smaller than a robin, and his mate is of the 

 same size, and as finely dressed as he. The 

 resemblance he is said to bear to the mocking- 

 bird I have never been able to see. His form, 

 his size, his coloring, and his movements are, to 

 my sight, in every way different from those of 

 the southern bird. 



The manners of the shrike are as fine as one 

 would expect from so distinguished-looking a 

 personage, dignified, reposeful, and unusually 



