NORTHERN SHRIKE 139 



others. It arrives in October, and leaves towards the end 



of March. Each Shrike, on its arrival from the north, 



apparently settles for the 



winter in a fixed region, 



which becomes its regular 



hunting-ground. Here one 



finds, during the winter, 



mice, small birds, and grass- "^''^^4-''^^^^ 



hoppers wedged in the forks ^^*^5^" 



of low trees or bushes, or im- _ „„ „ ^ „, ., 



' Fig. 30. Northern Shrike 



paled on thorny twigs, and 



occasionally a Shrike is seen dashing at a flock of frightened 



birds, and pursuing its victim till it is exhausted and caught. 



At other times it perches on the top of some tree or bush. 



The Shrike sings occasionally all through the winter, but 

 more often in February and March. The song is a medley 

 of harsh calls, mews, and screams, never very loud, inter- 

 spersed with some rather sweet notes ; it suggests the song 

 of the Catbird. Its call-notes are extremely har.sh and grating. 



A Shrike in adult plumage is unmistakable. Young birds 

 lack the bright black and white of the adults, but they may 

 be recognized by their rather plump look, habit of tilting the 

 tail on alighting, and by the characteristic flight, two or 

 three rapid wing strokes, followed by a scaling flight on set 

 wings. A close inspection will show the heavy bill with 

 its hooked tip. (See Mockingbird, p. 96, and Migrant 

 Shrike, p. 138.) 



■WAX-WINGS, ETC.: FAMILY AMPELID.3! 



Cedak Waxwing ; Cedar-bikd. Ampelis cedrorum 

 7.19 



Ad. S . — Head and throat rich snuff-color, fading into grayish- 

 brown on the back and breast; under parts yellowish; wings and 

 tail ash-gray; tail tipped with yellow; shorter wing-feathers often 



