416 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



nest and eggs of the European bird in view in his description. We know 

 of a single recent instance in w'liich this bird has bred within the limits 

 of the United States, though it may breed in Northern and Eastern Maine. 

 Mr. Boardman spoke of it as common only in winter, near Calais, but 

 he has since met with its nest in Xew Brunswick, within twelve miles 

 of St. Stephen. It was supposed by his informant to be the nest of the 

 Canada Jay, but proved, on shooting the parent, to l)e that of the North- 

 ern Shrike. AVhen I'ound, it contained four eggs, but these had hatched 

 out before it was secured. Tlie nest was found on the last of April, and 

 was built in a low spruce-tree. Mr. Boardman has since seen these birds in 

 his neighborhood during the summer. Professor Verrill thinks it is only 

 common in the autumn and winter in Western Maine. In Western Massa- 

 chusetts, Mr. Allen cites it as not very common, but a regular winter visit- 

 ant, from the last of October to the middle of April. 



Mr. Eidgway met with it frequently in the neighborhood of Carson City 

 during the winter, among the willows bordering the streams that flow from 

 the mountains. Dr. Coues also found it as far south as Arizona, though 

 Mr. Dresser did not meet with any in Texas, nor did Dr. Woodhouse notice 

 any in his expedition to the Zufii. Captain Feilner found this species com- 

 mon, in the colder months, in the northeastern portions of California, and 

 Dr. Cooper gives it as abundant at the Columbia River in October. 



Mr. Audubon further states that in severe winters he has met with it as 

 iar south as Natchez on the Mississippi. It is also not uncommon in Ken- 

 tucky during the same season, but he never met with it near the seaboard. 



Mr. Kennicott's memoranda in reference to this species are to the effect 

 that he observed one individual at Fort Simpson, September 23, and again 

 October 22, but on no other occasion. Both of these specimens, when first 

 observed, were singing. Their notes, he states, were low and irregular, but 

 were varied and quite musical. Captain Blakiston found these birds winter 

 residents on the Saskatchewan. 



In tiie fall and winter of 1871, a pair of these birds was attracted to the 

 (Jomnion, in Boston, by the large number of half-domesticated European 

 Sparrows. For a while they made daily inroads upon these favorites, killing 

 one or more for several days in succession. They appeared to keep them- 

 selves secreted most of the time, showing tliemselves each day early in the 

 forenoon, and pouncing upon their victims, unaware of their near presence, in 

 the manner of a Hawk, aiming always at the heads, which were torn off and 

 devoured ; generally the lieadless remains were left uneaten. In one in- 

 stance where a Sparrow had been struck on the back, an ugly wound was 

 made, the bird escaped alive, and was soon after seen, in the middle of Tre- 

 mont Street, apparently not seriously injured. These Shrikes were so bold 

 and destructive that pains had to be taken to watch for and shoot them. 

 Three were killed, on different days, and each with a dead Sparrow in its 

 claws, upon which it was feasting when shot. 



