The California Shrike as a Reptile Destroyer
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On May 12, 1910, I was waiting at the isolated station of Bixby, Los Angeles County, when a California Shrike was seen to hover for an instant over an object in the grass across the road, and strike with a vigorous downward thrust, almost immediately returning to its position above, to repeat. As I advanced to find the object of its attention, the bird struck again and arose with a snake in its talons and started off down the road. I shouted and the bird dropped its trailing burden and flew to a nearby telegraph pole. I examined the reptile a moment later and found it to be a specimen of California garter snake, 18½ inches in length, with the neck severed directly behind the skull.
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Recommended Citation
Osburn, Pingree I.
(1911)
"The California Shrike as a Reptile Destroyer,"
Condor: Vol. 13
:
Iss.
2
, Article 11.
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/condor/vol13/iss2/11