470 THE BIRDS OF MAINE 



subterminal bands to the feathers. Bill strongly hooked, hawk-like. Wing 

 3.80 ; tail 3.85. 



^ Geog. Dist. — Eastern Canada and eastern United States, west to Minnesota, 

 south to the Carolinas, Tennessee and lower Mississippi Valley ; breeding in 

 the northern portions of above range and migrating southward in winter. 



County Records. — Androscoggin ; rare summer resident, (Johnson). Aroos- 

 took; occasional at least in southern sections, (Knight). Cumberland; of 

 regular occurrence, it has come to my notice only during April and August, 

 in Westbrook, Gorham, etc., (Norton) ; since Mr. Norton recorded the species 

 thus I found and took him to a nest containing newly hatched young near 

 Westbrook, (Knight;. Franklin ; rare summer resident, (Richards); common 

 summer resident, (Sweet). Hancock; summer resident, (Murch). Kennebec; 

 rare, (Gardiner Branch). Oxford ; rare summer resident, (Johnson). Penob- 

 scot ; common summer resident, in 1908 seen March 1st, (Knight). Piscata- 

 quis; common summer resident, (Whitman). Somerset; quite common 

 summer resident, (Morrell). Waldo; common summer resident, (Knight). 

 Washington; rare summer resident, (Boardman). York; rare migrant, 

 (Adams). 



The species exceptionally arrives as early as March first, 

 more usually late in the month and remains until late Septem- 

 ber, exceptionally later as Mr. Norton records one at Westbrook 

 on November seventeenth, (J. M. O. S. 1901, p. 27). That 

 the species is extending its range throughout Maine and be- 

 coming more common seems evident. Some thirty years ago 

 the eggs were discovered near Bangor and disposed of by a 

 taxidermist as eggs of the Great Northern Shrike, a mistake 

 which was later discovered. It seems very probable that the 

 species has only been found in the State for not over forty 

 years, as it is well known to have been increasing since first 

 found here and to have extended its range. It is largely a 

 bird of civilization, frequenting the hedgerows, wayside trees, 

 telegraph wires and peaks of houses, and I have never seen 

 them at any distance from cultivated lands. 



Perched on the most prominent places they watch for their 

 prey. Grasshoppers, crickets, frogs, moths, butterflies, mice, 

 shrews and similar things are captured and eaten by them, 

 while more seldom indeed they eat small birds. Being smaller 

 and weaker than the Great Northern Shrike, they are not so 

 well fitted to capture other small birds and indeed do not seem 



