. The birds of Washington; a complete, scientific and popular account of the 372 species of birds found in the state . h the snow-checkered landscape, but he is nowise concernedwith problems of protective coloration. Seeking out some prominent perch,usually at this time of year a dead greasewood or a fence-post, he divides histime between spying upon the early-creeping field mouse and entertaining hislady love with outlandish music. Those who have not heard the White-rumpedShrike sing, have missed a treat. He begins with a series of rasping sounds,which are probably intended to produce the sam
. The birds of Washington; a complete, scientific and popular account of the 372 species of birds found in the state . h the snow-checkered landscape, but he is nowise concernedwith problems of protective coloration. Seeking out some prominent perch,usually at this time of year a dead greasewood or a fence-post, he divides histime between spying upon the early-creeping field mouse and entertaining hislady love with outlandish music. Those who have not heard the White-rumpedShrike sing, have missed a treat. He begins with a series of rasping sounds,which are probably intended to produce the same receptive condition in his THE WHITE-RUMPED SHRIKE. 355 audience which Ole Bull secured by awkwardly breaking one string after an-other on his violin, till only one was left. There, however, the resemblanceceases, for where the virtuoso could extract a melody of marvelous variety andsweetness from his single string, the bird produces the sole note of a struckanvil. This pours forth in successive three-syllabled phrases like the metallicand reiterative clink of a freely falling hammer. The chief difference which. Taken hi Douglas County. THE SHRIKES PRESERVE. appears between this love song and the ordinary call of warning or excitementis that in the latter case the less tender passions have weighted the clanginganvil with scrap iron and destroyed its resonance. The Shrike is a bird of prey but he is no restless prowler or hoverer, wear-ing out his wings with incessant flight—not he. Choosing rather a commandingposition on a telegraph wire, or exposed bush top, he searches the ground withhis eye until be detects some suspicious movement of insect, mouse, or bird-Then he dives down amongst the sage, and if successful returns to his post todevour at leisure. The bird does not remain long enough at one station to in-spire a permanent dread in the local population of comestibles ; but rathermoveson from post to post at short intervals and in methodical fashion. In flight the 356
Size: 1848px × 1352px
Photo credit: © Reading Room 2020 / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookauthordaws, bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, booksubjectbirds
