Cambridge, Mass.
1910.
Jan 30 [January 30, 1910]
(No 3) 
from slipping through. It tugged hard at this task,
pulling the Sparrow's head towards it with a succession 
of vigorous jerks leaning well backward the while but
not making any use of its wings as I have known
Shrikes to do when similarly employed. After securing
the Sparrow to its satisfaction it began devouring it
first plucking most of the feathers from the head and
neck and then eating the entire head and most of the
neck well down to the body. After the head had been
so reduced in size that it threatened to slip through
the fork the Shrike drew the Sparrow up and across
the two diverging twigs where it finally left it lying
after eating the parts I have mentioned. After this
it flew off into the jungle but soon came back to
flit close about me acting as if it feared I might
rob it of what remained of the prey. The Sparrow had
disappeared when I next visited the place about 5 P.M.
Shrike &
House Sparrow