Lanius borealis. 
! Concord, 
1896. 
j Nov. 19. 
! (No. 2). 
I 
Mass. 
prettiest demonstrations of the effectiveness of protective 
coloration that I have ever witnessed. Of course it is possi- 
ble that the Creeper found refuge in some narrow crevice 
which the Shrike could not enter arid which. 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 va- 
cillating 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 undu- 
lations 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 . 
