Concord, Mass.
1896
Nov.19
(No 2)
Partridge or two.
  While on my way down river in the morning
I also saw three Shrikes, both old & rather white
birds. One was flitting from tree to tree along
the banks near the Y. elm tree (favourite place
for Shrikes over all seasons when they are with us);
the other appeared suddenly at the North Bridge
just as I was leaving the mixed flock above mentioned
When I first saw him he was in hot pursuit of one
of the Brown Creepers and both birds were about over
the middle of the river and scarce a yard apart.
The Creeper made straight for the big elm which stands
at the eastern end of the bridge. When he reached
it the Shrike's bill was within six inches of his
tail but he nevertheless escaped for an instant after
the two birds doubled around behind the trunk
the Shrike rose to the topmost spray of the elm
where he sat for a minute or more gazing intently
downward evidently watching for the Creeper. The
latter, no doubt, had flattened himself against the bark
after the usual practice of his kind when badly
frightened and he had the nerve and good sense to
remain perfectly still for at least ten minutes. My
eyes were no better than the Shrike's for it was in
vain that I scanned the trunk over & over with
the greatest care. Feeling sure, however, that the
Creeper was really there I waited patiently until
at the end of the period just named he [delete]started[/delete]
* began moving up the trunk starting at the
very point where I had seen him disappear. It