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[ogsi.ijg oug go s.iaouiain o.n: uaniaiJuaS 3 aoci« 
My theory (slight proof), that how the S hrike 
obtains what few insects and worms they may 
get in winter (not in October, for in this month 
they might get plenty of insect food in freshly 
plowed fields), is this: During the winter 
months farmers are engaged, more or less, 
cutting wood and chopping down useless fruit 
trees. The woods are thinned out so much 
that dying or dead trees are used mostly. In 
cutting and splitting such timber, the grubs 
and beetles are exposed. 
I agree with Mr. Galloon that Tern draw up 
their feet when flying. I have noticed it in two 
species of Tern, and more particularly with the 
Herring Gull. During cold snaps they hover 
over the river, oftentimes clearing the bridges 
by less than thirty feet. 
If Mr. Arthur H. Howell will refer to the 
Laws of State of New York, 1880, page 669, 
chapter 427, he will gain the desired informa- 
tion regarding a permit. Most respectfully, 
T). T). Stone. . 
Oswego, N. Y (Sir* 4? XIV. *ttr IM.i-.a/. 
.Birds Tioffa Go, N»¥, Aidas Coring , 
148. Great Northern Shrike or Butcher Bird, j 
Common, but only as a winter visitor. Their 
food at this time consists of Sparrows and 
other small birds. I once shot one which had 
VI-. 4- «-» Qiaqyynqr — *'»»'• - — llrld its llCrld llGtllly 
The Great Northern Shrike and Its 
Prey. 
them Shrike. 
ELL. 
Northern Shrike. 
,1990, P-88 
BY C. C. MAXFIELL). 
In the July number of the O. and O. I see a 
short article by my friend, Benj. P. Hess, and 
see myself quoted as finding sparrows on 
thorns, etc. 
Instead of having found them hung in forks, 
I have, on several occasions, seen the Great 
Northern Shrike kill English sparrows and 
hang them in the forks of small bushes by the 
Oswego river. The Shrike at Phoenix, N. Y. 
is a bird very hard to find in summer, although 
occasionally. seen, but in winter are rather 
common, and I can say from observation that 
their food seems to be, principally, English 
sparrows. I have a Specimen of the shrike 
mounted in the position in which he was when 
shot. I had followed him for some distance 
from our farm barn, where I had seen him kill 
a sparrow, and lie had difficult work in flying 
away with the sparrow. I came up with him 
after a short time and found him sitting oil a 
q branch a short distance from a forked limb in 
which was the sparrow, hung by the neck. I 
have always, until this time, seen the shrikes 
hang their prey in a fork and fly away, but this 
one did not offer to do so. it was very cold 
weather and I thought probably hunger had 
something to do with it. I have seen as many 
as fifteen or twenty sparrows killed in our 
farm barn yard, in course of a winter. 
1 think the shrikes should be protected on 
this account, if on no other. As spring ap- 
proaches, the shrikes take to killing the field 
mice, and again are useful. Taking all together 
they deserve a much different treatment than 
they get. 
1 would like to hear the experience of brothel 
observers on this subject. 
& 
X 
i-H 
t-t 
i> 
& 
»-* 
CO 
CO 
Cahoon’s article, 
t Great Northern 
hich Mr. Cahoou 
“The Shrike at 
y hard to find in 
lough occasionally seen, but in 
(her common, and I can say from 
hat their food seems to be, plan- 
ish Sparrows.” 
leir food, in winter , seems to be, 
English Sparrows. By this I do 
t their food, all the year, is Eng- 
s, but only as far as my observa- 
inter. It would certainly be coiu- 
Isehood to say that their food, in 
Inglish Sparrows, when I have no 
serve them and satisfy myself as 
nor food. I have no record of see- 
n two or three of them in summer 
fie five or six years that I collected 
ir in Oswego County is severe 
•ive all the bugs and worms out of 
doubt the Shrikes were driven to 
ill Sparrows by hunger, but they 
theless. No doubt in a, vicinity 
are bugs and worms in sufficient 
lie Shrikes would choose and eat 
erenee to Sparrows, 
filler collector near Phoenix, N. Y. 
r me out in my assertions, is Mr. 
s, who, in Vol. 12, pp. Il l, writes 
j. Shrike while in the act of pursu- 
) (pewee) through bushes, and lie 
of their destroying Sparrows. I 
Hess to give his later observations 
rs of the O. &. O. 
lep t. 188ft , P. 134-/ ^ 7 
December 17, 1888, I 
bin grlaced in the crotch 
et from the ground. On 
it might be the work of 
i steel trap on the re- 
ed. I did not visit the 
en I found the robin torn 
orthern Shrike dangling 
ap. This is conclusive 
a was killed and eaten 
;e, as parts of the bird 
lach of the shrike. The 
no snow on the ground, 
>d might have been ob- 
9, while passing over a 
ration was attracted to 
air about 20 feet from 
ted down within a foot 
ain poised itself, then I 
nuse (Anicola ripnronn) 
combat the shrike, but 
wing all the advantage 
led the mouse, and then 
away a short distance 
le mouse, when I inter- 
;ing the remaining por- 
r out of my reach. The 
sn in previous numbers 
the result of close ob- 
elative to the food of the 
if New Y'ork, and I am 
further evidence that is 
y assertions in previous 
lave further proof from 
gentlemen interested in 
onsider that the greater 
g winter in our section ; ; 
tnals. " " 
Benj. F. Hess. 
I 
H7 
