FIELD BIRDS 113 



other birds is when, perched solitary and alone, he 

 awaits an opportunity to kill them. More persist- 

 ent than a Hawk who, failing in its swoop on its 

 intended prey, will let it escape, the Shrike hangs 

 on the trail of its victim, making every dodge and 

 turn, following closely through bushes and out again, 

 until at last the capture is made and his sharply 

 hooked bill does its fatal work. 



The Hawk-like Bill of the Shrike 



Then he discovers that after all he is a Sparrow ! 

 In place of the strong, large feet with their long, 

 curved talons, he has only the perching feet of his 

 relatives. Much too small, they are, to grasp his 

 prize in true Hawk-like fashion while he tears it 

 with his bill. What is to be done ? The Shrike, in 

 changing his disposition and Vv^ith it his expression, 

 may also have changed his face and with it his beak, 

 but unable to alter his feet he has had to find a substi- 

 tute for those sharp, serviceable claws of his model, 

 the Hawk. So, gathering the captured Redpoll, 

 Siskin or Junco in his feet (which at least are power- 

 ful enough for that) he seeks some favorable bush 



