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.•Notes from Hartland, Vt. (O. and O., IX., p. 35.) 
We regret that through an oversight the name of this place 
was printed Conn. Several correspondents point out to ns 
the improbability of the Great Northern Shrike, ( Lanius 
borealis,) nesting at Hartland. We should be glad to hear 
further from Mr. F. M. Goodwin, and to know whether the 
birds or eggs are in existence. The fact was unusual and 
as such worthy of note, but we see no reason, so far, to , 
deny the accuracy of our correspondent. 
/ X • JfcV- jft . Vfr-. 
Notes from Hartland, Corn. One afternoon in early 
May (issi,) while going up a steep bank from the river 
“oni I observed a pair of 
us Borealis,) about as if they were greatly d,s urbe 
by my presence. Upon looking around, I found their nes 
in an old apple tree. It contained four young birds, of 
“bo” one week, growth. Thin is the o tdy nest o ; y 
knowledge ever found in this locahty. It was composed .of 
' twigs and dark colored roots similar to those used L by rt 
Kins Bird, {Tyr annus carolinmais,) in the conb 1 
it was lined with hen’s feathers and woodchuck’s 
Gkeat Northern Shrike {Lanius borea- 
lis.') This is another interesting bird and 
breeds as abundantly here as the Robin 
( Migratoria ) does in New England. I 
shot one sptecimen in December, and have 
occasionally seen others. Most of them, I 
think, migrate south, but many stay 
through the winter. The habit these birds 
have of impaling their prey on thorns, etc., 
is well known, but, for what purpose I 
have never found out. I believe it is 
only done during the breeding season. 
The nest is a bulky affair of twigs and 
finished inside with rootlets, generally 
placed in dense thickets and not very far 
from the ground. I have never found one 
over five (5) feet or under two (2) ; eggs,' 
^ |i*from four to six, or even seven ; speckled. 
|v" g. They are a reckless bird and I have known 
S^them to fly violently against the wires of 
^ ^ a cage containing a Canary and do it re- 
peatedly, frightening the poor native of 
.■the Canary Islands almost to death. I 
remember once finding a nest near Fort 
Laramie, which I could not get at except 
by crawling on my hands and knees under 
k the bushes and reaching up through the 
\ thorns, at the expense of my clothes and 
• the loss of considerable skin from my 
hands. Not satisfied with this, Mr. 
Shrike had to attack my hand, actually 
breaking one of the eggs as I took it 
from the nest. These birds are some- 
, thing like the Mockingbird, and are often 
mistaken for them by the settlers here. 
1732 . Notes on New Mexican Shrikes. 
hair. 
AM- 
Q.&O. IX. Mar. 
CORRESPONDENCE. 
Notes From Hartland, Vt. (O. and O., IX, pp. 38 
and 43.) Mr. F. M. Goodwin writes as follows : 
“ I saw in the last issue of the O. and O. some were in 
doubt as to the Great Northern Shrik .^Lanius boreal, s) 
nesting in Hartland, Vt., and asked if I had the eggs or 
birds. The eggs were hatched and so I did not take the 
birds. I examined them thoroughly and then showed them 
to Mr. C. O. Tracy, of Taftsville, Vt., 
the same beyond a doubt, 
against our identification. 
, but it was an actual occurrence.” 
and he called them 
There cannot be any question 
The case was a rare one truly, 
O.&o. IX. May . 1884. p . fcl. 
Flickers and Ground Doves were both engaged 
in love making this month. The pair of Shrikes 
in this grove, which, had commenced their nest by 
January 31st, continued work upon it rapidly the 
first of this month, but when nearly finished the 
tree in which it was built was removed to another 
grove and their labor was lost. Waiting a few 
clays they commenced again on the remains oi one 
of their last year nests, and after completing it the 
female laid the first egg on the 23d. The com- 
plete set numbered four. Tile loth I found a pair 
building in another orange grove the eggs wei e 
well advanced. 
O.&O. XI, May. 1886. p. 
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Lanius borealis and L. 1. excub itor ides. $01 % > && i 61 . 
Ibid. 
3! / See. /X/.V<»r 
S~ 9- 
7. Nesting of the Great Northern and Loggerhead Shrikes in Maine. 
By H. A. Purdie, based on information furnished by E. S. Bowler. Ibid., 
XII, p. 1 G 6 , April 3, 1878. — As stated later (p. 265, May 8 , 1878), the 
note really refers exclusively to the Loggerhead. jjFfJip, Stream* 
S 76 . Shrikes Catch Mice when Thrown in the Air. By J. L. D[avid- 
son]. Ibid., p. 203 . For. & Stream. XXII 
Birds of Western Ontario. B v John M. Morden. Ibid.. Ill, p. 216 . 
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— On Lanius borealis , Regulus calendula , and Circus hudsonius. Supposed 
voung of former, taken near Hyde Park, doubtless were L. ludovicianus. 
Ssort. & Naturalist 
