Page:Bird-lore Vol 05.djvu/136

 The Loggerhead Shrike in Massachusetts 123

In the next few days (during which Mr. Torrey had kindly given me the information that he knew of but one other Massachusetts record of the Loggerhead Shrike) I made diligent search for the nest, which I was positive, from the feeble efforts of the voung at ﬂying. could not be far away‘ It was, however. only after a week's careful and systematic search in all the trees of the neighborhood. that I discovered it in a lowly brush- heap. within ten inches of the ground. This heap of brush had served them

[.UGCERHEAD SHRIKE AM) us \EerVGrSH‘L

as a Vantageyground. together with the neighboring fence-rails, from which they pounced on the grasshoppers and crickets which constituted their sole diet, so far as I could judge.

The nest was a bulky structure, and was composed largely of chestnut catkins, with a mingling of pieces of string, rootlets. twigs and dried grasses: while the interior was deftly lined with fern-dmvn and other soft substances.

A curious thing about the young Shrikes was their lack of conﬁdence in their powers of flight: for. on two occasions, by stepping boldly toward one which was feeding on the ground. I was able, literally. to run it doer