1891 
December 30 
At 3 P. M. I launched my Rushton boat and started 
up river. The recent rain has raised the water nearly to a 
level with the meadows and a strong current was running. 
This, combined with the violent wind, gave me hard work as 
far as Egg Rock, but the Assabet,up which I turned,was as 
placid under its sheltered banks and overhanging woods as a 
summer* s evening. 
G-ray Squirr el I rowed up to Bird’s Nest Island and back without 
seeing a living thing save a fine Gray Squirrel which was in 
the old hemlocks. He passed rapidly from one tree to the next, 
running out over the branches and leaping from one to another, 
finally climbing the main trunk of a large tree and concealing 
himself among the foliage. 
On returning to the Buttricks’ and just as I was 
stepping out of the canoe at the landing, I happened to look 
up and at once perceived a Shrike — a large, brown bird -— 
sitting on the top of a bean pole on the hill-side above. 
His attitude was easy, yet erect, and he did not move in the 
least for several seconds. Then, after a flirt of the tail, he 
took wing and crossed the river in long, graceful undulations 
finally passing out of sight beyond Honeysuckle Island. The 
Shrike is perhaps as characteristic a feature of our winter 
landscape as is any other bird,not even excepting the Snow Bunting, 
There is a certain easy nonchalance in his bearing which assures 
one of the bird's hardiness and indifference to cold or hunger. 
Shrike 
