BIRDS OF NEW YORK STATE 89 



Shrike, Northern (continued) 



Call no. 



Nu SiN8 Adult Attracted by Deer Mouse Fastened in Thorn Bush. 

 Ithaca. (February 1918) Allen 



Mice form an important part of the food of this species. Note 

 that the mouse is fastened onto a bush much as if the bird itself 

 had placed it there. 



Nu SiN9 Vesper Sparrow Impaled on Thorn by Northern Shrike 



Bailey 



The shrike often can not eat at once all the food it captures. 

 In such a case it may impale it upon a thorn for a later meal. 

 The thorn likewise serves to hold the food while the bird pulls 

 it to pieces. The bird seems to be unable to hold its food beneath 

 its foot and get sufficient leverage to pull it to bits. 



Skimmer, Black (Rynchops nigra) 



An occasional summer visitant off the shores of Long Island. 

 There are only a few definite records of it within the State. 



16-20 



Nu SkBl Adult on Nest among Sea Rocket Plants (Cakile edentula) 

 on Sandy Beach. Wreck island, Va. (June 28, 1911) 



Harper 



The appearance of the bird on the ground scarcely suggests 

 that it is one of the most graceful of all birds in flight. 



Nu SkB3 Nest with Three Eggs in the Sand; Sea Rocket Plants 

 (Cakile cdenhila). Wreck island, Va. (June 26, 1911) 



Harper 



The nest is merely a scooped-out hollow in the sand on the 

 sea-beach. While incubating, the bird frequently rests its awk- 

 ward looking, razor-edge bill on the sand, thus making the 

 grooves which appear radiating from the nest. 



Nu SkB8 Adult in Flight 



Can you suggest how the strange bill is used? Docs the bird 

 resemble a tern except for its bill? 



