68 The Birds of Albany County 



well that he is a murderer, and is around for no good. The 

 Shrike doubtless views the situation otherwise, for he likes to 

 eat tender little birds. This explains the hooked bill, which 

 is used to tear the flesh, after the manner of a hawk. 

 If Shrike happens to seize a bird when his stomach is full, 

 he impales his prey on a thorn and returns to it later. Some 

 observers have gone so far as to say that the Shrike, or 

 Butcher Bird, often catches birds and impales them just as 

 a pastime. 



The ordinary calls of the Shrikes are harsh and unmusical, 

 but both birds are said to have vocal powers not unlike those 

 of the Catbird. 



Family Ampelidse 



Cedar Waxwing; Cedar-bird. — Ampelis cedrorum. 



7.19 



Fairly Common Summer Resident 



Field marks. — Stands very erect; long crest, nearly always 

 raised; entire bird in the field appears light grayish- 

 brown; on close view, small, red, bead-like ornaments 

 are found appended to the secondaries; tail tipped with 

 yellow; belly washed with yellowish. 



While early to arrive in Spring and very late to depart 

 in the Autumn, the Cedar-bird finds the Winters hereabouts 

 too cold to his liking, though in the southern part of the 

 State, large flocks are often found in the dead of Winter. 

 A faint and rather plaintive lisping note, which can be heard 



