22 



Only in a few favored localities do 

 we have a chance to see and hear the 

 southern Cardinal, but we have in the 

 R0SP::-BREASTED grosbeak a spe- 

 cies that is even more delightful dur- 

 ing- the period that they are with us, 

 which is from about May 10th until 

 September. This grosbeak is most 

 beautifully arrayed in black and white, 

 with a large pink cravat and a patch 

 of the same under each wing. 



The song of this species is incompar- 

 ably better than that of the Cardinal, 

 in character midway between that of 

 the Robin and the Baltimore Oriole, 

 but better than either because compos- 

 ed of such clear, mellow and silvery 

 notes. The song is almost invariably 

 preceded, at an interval of about one 

 second, with a sharp, metallic chip. I 

 know of no other species that thus 

 g-ives warning of his performance so 

 everyone may be in readiness to listen. 



The Grosbeak nest is a rather frail 

 structure of twigs and rootlets, placed 

 in trees or bushes in second growth 

 woods or sometimes in our shade trees. 



range. Our species are about the size of a Robin, gray 

 and white^ with blackish wings and tail and a black patch 

 on the sides of the head. XORTHERX SHRIKES do 

 not nest within our borders, but appear regularly every 

 winter. We may see them perched in trees by the road- 

 side^ on fence posts or making their way with much flapping 

 of the wings across the fields. During the greater part 

 of the year^ Shrikes feed upon insects, chiefly grasshoppers ; 

 they also at times catch small birds and mice, and since, 

 in winter, they cannot obtain insects their food must al- 

 most wholly consist of such. Their hooked beaks enable 

 them to easily tear their prey, btit their feet are not con- 

 structed for firmly holding it;consequently they And it 

 convenient to impale birds and sometimes insects on thorns 

 or barbs of wire fences in order that they may accomplish 

 their purpose. Sometimes, too, their booty is merely hung 

 up to be used at a future time, for they have the habit of 

 often killing more than they wish at the time. They often 

 ap2oear in cities and catch English Sparrows on the streets 

 or about buildings, becoming so bold and fearless when 

 very hungry that they often allow themselves to be caught 

 rather than relinquish a bird that thev have caught. 



:\riGRAXT SHRIKES, a northern sub-species of the 



