118 
OUR BIRDS IN WINTER. 
from his covert, and, seeing that all danger was 
past, he called to his companions, who soon 
joined him. 
I don’t blame you for hiding in such a 
liurry,” said Grouse, for those Shrikes are 
vilainous birds. I have seen some of their 
capers, and am thankful that I am too large for 
them. But I must leave you now, for I have 
some distance to go to get to my favorite cov- 
ert, and it is getting late. I shall see more 
of you this coming spring and summer, and as 
for you, Mr. Woodcock, I hope to see you 
often. Good-by, all of you ; take good care 
of yourselves.” 
So saying. Grouse left the party, who re- 
turned his polite words with similar courtesies. 
In a few moments the party was joined by 
a few Snow Birds and the Pine Finches, 
from whom they inquired about the recent 
flurry. 
It was an attack by one of those rascally 
Shrikes,” answered one of the Pine Pinches 
to their inquiries. We were flying over to 
Pine Hill for our supper, when the pirate 
