35-' THE XOKTIIERX SIlR|j>:i:. 



iiig season, so tiiat a small orcliani may contain a dozen nests, wliile another 

 as goofl. a little way removed, lias none. In the XiKjksack X'alley, near (ilacier. 

 Mr. Brown showed me a tiny pasture carved ont of the woods, where lie iiad 

 found, tiiiring the previous season, six nests of the Cedarhird. ])laced at heigiit> 

 ranging fnim three to six feet above the ground in small chimps of \ ine inajile 

 or alder saplings. In Chelan we found them nesting in the tops of the 

 solitary pine trees which line the stream. 



The female sits closely upon her eggs, not infrer|uently remaining until 

 forcibly removed. Once off. however, she makes away without comjilaint. 

 ami i)ays no further attention to the incident until the intruder has departed. 



.\lways of a most gentle disposition, when the nesting season arrives, 

 according to Mr. Bowles, these birds richly deserve the name of Love Birds. 

 .•\ leaf from his note-book supports the statement: "July 7. 1896. To-<lay 

 I watched two Cedarbirds selecting a nesting site, lirst one location being 

 tested, then another. Finally they deci<led u|)on a suitable place and com- 

 menced picking both dry and green leaves from the surrounding trees, placing 

 tiiem upon a horizontal limb where two <ir three twigs projected. .Mmost all 

 of these leaves blew off as soon as placed, greatly to the sur])rise of the birds, 

 who sokinnly watched ihcm drop to the ground. These fallen leaves were 

 never replaced, fresh ones being gathered instead, and these were always 

 secured from growing trees. Then one got a long strip of plant silk and, 

 placing it on tlie leaf foundation Hew a foot or two away an<l lit. The other 

 bird ])romptly took away the silk and brought it to its mate, who very gently 

 took it and put it back. This operation was rejjeated again and again. .\i 

 times Ixitii held the silk, sitting only an inch or two apart. whereui)on the bird 

 who was the original finder would. ',rry f/cnlly, jnill it from the bill of its 

 mate and replace it. .\\. the end of fifteen minutes of tliis loving i)assage I 

 was obliged to retire, anrl I shall never know whetlier the i)lant fiber was 

 successfully i)laced or merely worn out." 



No. I. vs. 

 NOR 11 11: RN SHRIKE. 



A. O. U. No. 621. I.aniiis borcalis N'ieill. 



Synonym.s. -CiRKAT .Xoktmi-hn Surikk. Mt ti iiiK-TiiKn. 



Description. -./rfiJr Upperparts clear, bluish gray, lightest — almost white — 

 Mil ti|.|Kr tail-ci>\iTts : extreme forehead whitish: wings and tail black, the former 

 witli a consi)icii<uis white s|>i't at ba-i- i.f priinarie-<. the latter with larRC. white 

 terminal blotches on outer feather-. <lecrea»in>; in -ize inwardly: a black band 

 through eye. including aiiriculars; below grayi-h white, the feathers of the brea-t 



