Lanius ludovicianus migrans. 
Bethel, Maine. 
1903 
June 5 
S The most interesting experience of the morning remains 
to be chronicled. I was returning over the intervale and within 
two hundred yards of the railroad when a Shrike ( L.1. nigran s ) 
started from a maple and flew off up the road, carrying a bird in 
its bill. It alighted first -on a fence post, next on a brush heap 
near the railroad. I got within twenty yards of it each time. As 
I was approaching it it worked busily and nervously, tearing at 
its 'prey and eating portions of it. Finally it circled back past 
me and flew out into a large field whore it alighted on a fence 
post. Before I could get near it again it flew a fourth time 
leaving its victim which I found was a Bank Swallow. It had eaten 
IK 
the head completely off and had impaled the loose skin of the lower 
neck on a sharp upright splinter that projected above the post. 
After examining the Swallow I walked off a few rods when the Shrike 
immediately returned to it and carried it off across the road to a 
small half dead willow that grew by a wall within fifty yards of a 
house. I followed and had the great pleasure of watching the 
Shrike impale the Swallow on a short, sharp stub of a dead twig. 
It performed this operation precisely in the manner of the Northern 
Shrike that I saw hang up a Field Mouse at Ball's Hill a dozen or 
so years ago, i.e. by drawing the bird against the stub. Stand¬ 
ing a little below it it pulled violently and jerkily for several 
minutes often fluttering its wings either to keep its balance or 
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