Concord, Mass.
1896
Nov.19
(No 3)
was one of the prettiest demonstrations of the
effectiveness of protective coloration that I have ever
witnessed. Of course it is possible that the Creeper
found refuge in some narrow crevice which the
Shrike could not enter & which could not be seen
from the ground but I do not believe that this
was really the case.
  During the chase the Creeper flew in the usual feeble
vacillating manner. The Shrike, like the bird which
I saw catch a Warbler last month, kept his tail
wide-spread and did not appear to be exerting
himself. He did not move in undulations as is the
habit of Shrikes during ordinary flight but flapped
steadily and kept on a perfectly level plane looking
very like a Blue Jay. It is singular how often
Shrikes as well as Hawks fail to catch their prey
and how quickly and completely they seem to become
discouraged if the first stoop is unsuccessful.
  The pair of White-bellied Nuthatches seen at the bridge
this morning were at the Keyes' when I started and
I traced their flight across the meadows as they
kept a little in advance of me alighting to rest a
moment on the few trees that intervene. They are
unmistakeably the same birds which rested in the
big elm at the North Bridge last spring. At best
I am sure that the female is the same for she
is an exceptionally high-plumaged bird with the
crown nearly as black as that of her mate.
Both birds moreover come every morning to the Keyes'
to inspect the branch where a large piece of suet