Concord, Mass.
1911.
March 20
(No 4)
[March 20, 1911]

[male] Downy kills [female].

but I restrained the impulse not being willing to
interrupt a trajedy [tragedy] of such extraordinary, if repulsive,
interest. It would have made no difference anyway
for this final onslaught lasted only a very few
seconds. During its continuance the [male] Downy seemed
literally beside himself with rage. No Butcher Bird
that I have ever watched has shown, while dealing
with a mouse or sparrow, more murderous energy.
After finishing the foul deed he left the [female]
lying perfectly motionless and flew up again into the
elm. We now went out and picked up the female.
She was still living but unable to move. The
back of her head was soaked in blood and
her bare skull showed in places. She died
a little later. I skinned her and preserved her skull which
I have attached to the skin. It is punctured in 10 or 12 places.
The bird was in normal condition physically with healthy looking
ovary the ovules undeveloped. The only injuries were to the skull.