142 INSTINCT IN BIRDS. 



after him, with the intention of having him as well as her 

 regular food, he hops along just out of reach until he has 

 gone quite a distance, when he suddenly flies back to the 

 dish and eats until again disturbed. This is continued, un- 

 less otherwise disturbed, until the cat tires or the Jay has 

 had his fill. 



The spiking of small birds and mice upon thorns is a well 

 known habit of the Butcher Bird {Lanius borealis), and, I 

 believe, peculiar to the Shrike family {Laniidce), but I think 

 that it can scarcely be looked upon as anything more than 

 ordinary instinct. 



The following interesting but pathetic incident I witnessed 

 early this summer, and I think that it showed more bird rea- 

 soning than anything that I have hitherto met with. The 

 Blue-hep.ded Vireo ( Vireo solitarius) is rather a rare bird in 

 this part of the country ; therefore, upon finding my second 

 nest containing eggs, I cut off the branch with the nest 

 suspended, and thus left no signs of what was once there. 

 Being curious to see how the bird would act upon her return, 

 I stood behind a tree at a convenient distance and watched. 

 She soon flew to the branch on which the nest had been 

 placed, and very carefully examined the spot where I had 

 cut it off. She then, after taking a careful survey of the 

 branches close to her, flew to the ground exactly under where 

 the nest had been placed, and made a long and systematic 

 search among the leaves, evidently for her treasures, as she 

 ate nothing whatever. If I had not been certain that she 

 would be sitting, in two weeks' time, upon a similar nest and 

 eggs, I think that I should very probably have restored the 

 nest to its old place. A couple of weeks later, I found her 

 second nest and eggs not 50 yards from the former site ; and 

 I am happy to say she reared her young in safety. 



I will conclude by speaking of a subject which seems to 

 surprise people who know little or nothing about Ornithology. 

 It is not directly applicable to the title of this article, but as 

 I have not seen any other explanation of the subject given, 



