Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-01-27
PECULIAR INCIDENT.
Frank 7. Noble Tells of Shrike and
Snake in Mortal Combat.
One Of Those Interesting Experiences that Sci
dom Come to Amateur Naturalists.

There are few amateur naturalists
who have pursued their studies and
researches through a long period OF
years with the care and persistency
which have characterized the whole
life of Frank T. Noble of this city.
While others have taken up the study,
made a collection of few specimens,
and then dropped it for some other
pursuit Mr.. Noble has devoted all his
spare time to this work and now is
probably the best informed person In
the city upon all which pertains to
birds and bird life. He is a keen OBJ
$ erver and spends much time in study
ing their habits. Many times in the
past he has contributed interesting ar
ticles to pathological journals upon
the subject. A recent issue of the Jour-
nal of the Maine pathological So
ciety contains the following interesting
story of an incident which he observed
while in the town of Manchester, re-
Gently:
+ ION April 2Sth of last year. while
riding along the Pond road, so-called
in the town of Manchester, I expert
enced a most novel and remarkable
adventure, one of those strange and
curious happenings which falls to the
+ lot of an amateur naturalist but once
in a life time TO observe and to par
ticipate in.
while travelling beside a field. con
tanning a few apple trees and bordering
upon the highway. my attention was
attracted to Il bunch of gray and
white feathers tumbling about in the
grass somewhere after the manner OF
A hen whose head had been chopped
/ off. A homely comparison. perhaps
! but 1t fits the case exactly. and instant
! " came into my mind as / watched II
With surprise. -.- t~.
! "The object was within few feet OF
the roadway and as I drew nearer
saw il was a shrike of some kind and
in serious trouble. but just what the
nature of the difficulty was ii was I'm
possible to make out. There appeared
10 be a string or something attached
which dangled from the bird and could
be plainly seen at such times as the
bird fiuttered or hoped into the air
Il seemed trying hard to fly, but after
reaching a height of perhaps three feet
would fall back in the grass in an aim
less and decidedly crazy manner.
ming to where the bird was rolling
about. attempted to grasp it IN my
hands, but at my near approach ad'
ditional fear seemed to possess II. ant
making a still greater effort, apparent
lly. it's raised itself on its wings ant
half flying, half scaling. flew some s.
feet and again fell, apparently ex
bausted. in a heap on the grass Ii
this flight as in the other shorter ex
icursions into the air. the same ione
'stringy object dangled along with tn
tird hanging some foot or more
I'm my second attempt at capture
w as more cautious and using my ha
fo,I a net held the bird in my han
a second later and the mystery wa
solved.
The- fNrd was Loggerhead Shrik'
,Ianius iudovicianus. and coiled tight
aho,,t Is neck was the third quarter 9
!, s,rin,ad snake. The snake was du
ivel,ow with broad stripes. was abou
"a inches. long and somewhat large
,round thcn a lead pencil. and Will
. the head Of the snake had evidently re