67
Concord, Mass.
1913.
Aug. 26
to
Nov. 13.
(No. 18)

of a lesser bird which looked & chirped like a Pine Warbler and
was flitting through dense white pine foliage. Being either too much
or too little frightened to make vigorous use of its wings it progressed
rather slowly and was easily and repeatedly overtaken by the Shrike
but while within our view always eluded him at the last moment
by doubling or wheeling suddenly, nor did we hear it cry out afterwards
although we listened intently & the air was calm. Hence we thought it
must have finally escaped. The Shrike followed it closely, with the 
utmost eagerness, spreading his tail wide every time he had to make an
abrupt turn.
  On November 6 [November 6, 1913] I was approaching the foot of our lane from the
Run when I heard the odd skirling cry of a Shrike repeated
several times in quick succession and coming apparently from the
apple orchard. From the same direction there came, a moment later, 
the agonised cries of some small bird which the Shrike must have
caught and killed - not too quickly for they continued for upwards 
of a minute, growing ever fainter and fainter and more despairing as it
seemed. On reaching the orchard I looked in vain for the Shrike but
saw several Chickadees and Juncos. Either species may well have
furnished the poor victim that supplied the remorseless Butcher bird
with his coveted meal on this occasion.
  Not long after sunset on November 12 [November 12, 1913] I was surprised to see
a Shrike flying into the dense young pines in front of our bungalow
at the Farm with several Juncos which he seemed to be accompanying
rather than pursuing with sinister intent. At least he made no obvious
attempt to molest any of them, although for an instant in the very
midst of them, nor did they show any fear of him. After
disappearing with them among the pines he emerged just beyond
and glided off low over an open field across the road.
  While motoring to Cambridge on November 26 [November 26, 1913] we saw a very large &
brown Shrike that flitted from tree to tree ahead of the car, in Lincoln [Lincoln, Massachusetts].