LANIID.E THE SHRIKES. 103 



Lanius borealis Vieill. 



NORTHERN SHRIKE. 



Popular synonyms. Great American Shrike; Great Northern Shrike or Butcher Eir': 

 White Whiskey-jack (Fur Countries). 



Lanius borealis VIEILL. Ois. Am. Sept. i, 1807, 90. pi. 50. Sw. & RICH. F. B. A. ii, 1S31 111 

 pi. 33. AUD. Synop. 1839, 157; B. Am. iv, 1842, 130. pi. 236. RIDGW. Norn. N. Ata. II. 

 1881. No. 148. COUES, 2d Check List, 1882. No. 180; B. Col. Val. 1878, 558. 



Collyrio borealis BAIED, B. N. Am. 1858, 324; Cat. N. Am. B. 1859 No. 230. 



Collurio borealis BAIRD, Review, 1806, 440. COUES, Key, 1872, 125; Check List 1 

 No. 134; B. N. W. 1874, 101.-B. B. & R. Hist. N. Am. B. i, 1874, 415 pi. 19. figs. 1, 2. 



HAB. Northern North America, south, in winter, to about 35; breeding north of the 

 United States, and in higher mountain districts of the latter. 



SP. CHAE. Adult in breeding season. Above light ash-gray, becoming gradually 

 white on forehead, over eyes, on tips of longer scapulars, and on upper tail-coverts, 

 the latter, however, tinged with gray. Lores and auriculars black. Wings black, the 

 secondaries and shorter primaries narrowly tipped with grayish white, the primaries 

 with a white patch at the base. Lower parts grayish white, the jugulum, breast, and 

 sides transversely waved or vermiculated with dusky gray. Tail black, the outer web of 

 lateral feather and ends of all except middle pair white. Bill entirely black; feet black; 

 iris brown. Adult in winter. Similar, but lores grayish white, and mandible whitish at 

 base. Young. Above grayish brown, tinged, more or less with rusty, the longer scapu- 

 lars and upper tail-coverts paler; black of lores and auriculars indistinct or obsolete; 

 wing-coverts edged and tipped with rusty or buff; spot at base of primaries much re- 

 stricted, or obsolete. Lower parts brownish white, everywhere distinctly vermiculated 

 with dusky. 



Total length, about 10'i inches, extent 14>2. Wing about 4.50. 



Although it has been recorded as breeding in the northern portion 

 of Illinois, there can now be no doubt that all such records refer 

 to the Loggerhead (L. ludovicianus}, and not to the present species, 

 which is probably only a winter visitor, and a rare one at that, 

 beyond the middle portion of the State. The summer habitat of 

 the Great Northern Shrike, as may be inferred from its name, in- 

 cludes the more northern portions of the continent, as far north as 

 the limits of tree growth, and across from ocean to ocean. It is 

 said also to breed in mountainous regions of the United States, but 

 we have little reliable information on this point. 



The general habits of this species partake of those of others of 

 its family. "Its bold audacity and perseverance are quite remark- 

 able, and are often displayed, in the fall, in the manner in which 

 it will enter an apartment through an open window and attack a 

 Canary, even in the presence of members of the family. It rarely 

 fails, if it gains access to the cage, to destroy its inmates before 

 the latter can be rescued by the intervention of those present, and 

 only by great promptness in sheltering the cage. In one instance 

 the writer was sitting at a closed window, reading, with a Canary 



hanging above him. Suddenly there was a severe blow struck at 

 13 



