1893
March 22 
(No 2)
Cambridge, Mass.
  The Shrike was perched on the top of a large
hickory in the middle of the fields. Here it remained
for 15 or 20 minutes singing pretty steadily most 
of the time. The song resembled that of a young
Mocking bird learning to sing. There seemed to be only
three phrases each of which would be repeated many
times in succession before the bird took up another.
The favourite phrase was a liquid killee which resembled
one of the low, musical notes of the Blue Jay. This,
as well as the other notes, although seemingly subdued
in tone and far from loud when I stood directly
beneath the bird carried surprisingly. [deleted]to an unexpected distance.[/deleted]
Indeed I heard the bird distinctly at a distance of
over two hundred yards. I noticed that while singing
he kept his head moving continually, turning it from 
side to side and sometimes directly behind so that his
face was turned towards his tail like an Owl's. These
movements and his alert expression suggested that
there may be, after all, some truth in the theory
that the song is intended to lure small birds
from their coverts. Certainly this Shrike seemed to
be on the watch for a victim but perhaps he was
only combining business with pleasure. 
[margin]Shrike
Song[/margin]
  In the intervals of the song I heard him repeat,
many times in quick succession, a low sound like the
grating of teeth or still more like that of a Squirrel's 
teeth rasping the shell of a hickory nut. This sound
is new to me. I thought that it was made by 
the bill but could not see the mandibles move
although I used my glass. Our Parrot makes a somewhat
similar noise by grating its mandibles slowly. 
[margin]Makes sound
like the 
rasping of
teeth[/margin]