BIRDS AND BIRDS 137 



peeping through at them, hoping to get a glimpse of 

 that rare sparrow, the white-crowned. Presently I 

 heard a rustling among the dry leaves as if some 

 larger bird was also among them. Then I heard one 

 of the goldfinches cry out as if in distress, when the 

 whole flock of them started up in alarm, and, circling 

 around, settled in the tops of the larger trees. I 

 continued my scrutiny of the bushes, when I saw a 

 large bird, with some object in its beak, hopping 

 along on a low branch near the ground. It disap- 

 peared from my sight for a few moments, then came 

 up through the undergrowth into the top of a young 

 maple where some of the finches had alighted, and 

 I beheld the shrike. The little birds avoided him 

 and flew about the tree, their pursuer following them 

 with the motions of his head and body as if he would 

 fain arrest them by his murderous gaze. The birds 

 did not utter the cry or make the demonstration of 

 alarm they usually do on the appearance of a hawk, 

 but chirruped and called and flew about in a half- 

 wondering, half-bewildered manner. As they flew 

 farther along the line of trees the shrike followed 

 them as if bent on further captures. I then made 

 my way around to see what the shrike had caught, 

 and what he had done with his prey. As I ap- 

 proached the bushes I saw the shrike hastening 

 back. I read his intentions at once. Seeing my 

 movements, he had returned for his game. But I 

 was too quick for him, and he got up out of the 

 brush and flew away from the locality. On some 

 twigs in the thickest part of the bushes I found his 



