. The birds of Washington : a complete, scientific and popular account of the 372 species of birds found in the state . w-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,wliicli are probabh- intended to produce the same rece
. The birds of Washington : a complete, scientific and popular account of the 372 species of birds found in the state . w-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,wliicli are probabh- intended to produce the same receptixe conditi(in in his THE WHITE-RUMPED SHRIKE. 355 audience which Die Bull secured Ijy awkwariHx breaking one siring after an-other on his \iolin. till only (me was left. There, howe\-er, the resemblanceceases, for where the virtuoso could extract a melody of marvelous varietv andsweetness from his single string, the bird produces the sole note of a struckan\-il. Tliis poius forth in successi\-e three-syllabled phrases like the metallicand reiterati\-e clink of a freely falling hammer. The chief difference which. Taken in Doughs Ccvnty- fhotn by n. THE SHRIKES PRESERVE. appears between this love song and tlie ordinary call of warning or excitementis that in the latter case the less tender passions have weighted the clangingan\-il with scrap iron and destroyed its resonance. The Shrike is a bird of prey but he is no restless prowler or ho\erer, 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 he detects some suspicious mo\ement of insect, mouse, or he di\es 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 jiost to post at short intervals and in methodical fashion. In
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