^°'g?^^] Cameron, Birds of Custer & Dawson Counties, Mont. 49 



crests, wliile all the birds would start in chorus with their "low lisping 

 caU." 



162. Laoius borealis. Northern Shrike. — Not common but seen 

 at intervals in fall, winter and spring. It possesses great strength, and 

 will attack birds as large as itself. On April 8, 1893, I saw an impaled 

 Horned Lark in a Shrike's larder on a low bush. On March 26, 1904, I 

 saw a Shrike hawking a Redpoll just as a Falcon would do. The unfortu- 

 nate Redpoll ringed liigher and higher in vain efforts to keep above its 

 pursuer, which, after twice almost seizing the quarry in mid-air, compelled 

 it to fly straight for about half a mile. The exhausted Redpoll then took 

 refuge in liigh sage brush closely followed by its assailant. On October 

 16, 1906, a Tree Sparrow pursued by tliis Shrike found refuge in the cedars 

 surrounding my water-troughs in Dawson County. Its victim having 

 escaped, the Shrike sat on a branch and permitted me to examine it at 

 close range. 



This Shrike has a pleasing song wliich may be heard in winter after all 

 the migratory song-birds have left. 



163. Lanius ludovicianus excubitorides. White-rumped Shrike. — 

 Common and ubiquitous summer resident of both counties. One of our 

 tamest and most confiding birds which alights on the wood pile, or any 

 where at the ranch door in close proximity to human beings. There were 

 usually two Shrikes' nests on Ash Creek, on wliich my ranch near Terry 

 was situated. A nest found June 25, 1894, containing five young birds 

 nearly ready to fly, was wedged between two upright cottonwood stems 

 above the water, and appeared to be in a precarious situation. It was, 

 however, reaUy supported from below by a small snag. 



In 1898, this peculiar site was again chosen by the Shrikes, and six eggs 

 were laid by June 16. Another nest near the above, in the fork of a box 

 elder, contained three newly hatched nestlings at the same date. These 

 birds kept well out of the way when I was in their vicinity, and thus dif- 

 fered from another pair which nested annually in a cedar on my Dawson 

 County ranch. The latter fiercely resented any approach to their nesting 

 site, and would fly straight at me, chattering and snapping their bills, 

 *on the few occasions that I disturbed them. Indeed, after the young 

 were hatched, it was necessary to protect my head from the female with 

 my hands. 



164. Vireo oUvaceus. Red-eyed Vireo. — Tolerably common on 

 the spring migration. I have not found it breeding in either county. In 

 his list above quoted Dr. J. A. AUen states that tliis species is "Common 

 wherever there is timber, from the Missouri to the Musselshell." A mixed 

 flock of these Vireos and Yellow Warblers arrived at my ranch (Custer 

 County) on May 20, 1893. (See also No. 165.) 



165. Vireo gilvus. Warbling Vireo. — Tolerably common in spring. 

 Captain Thorne says that it breeds, but I have not found a nest nor ob- 

 served this bird after the end of May. On May 16, 1899, at my ranch 

 (Custer County), a flock mixed with Red-eyed Vireos were flying north, 



