JAN., 1909. BIRDS OF ILLINOIS AND WISCONSIN CORY. 



629 



Loggerhead Shrike. 



tinged with ashy; inner secondaries, black, tipped with white; pri- 

 maries, fuscous brown, the bases, white; tail, blackish, the outer 

 feathers with the ends largely white. 



Sexes similar. 



Immature birds have the under parts marked with wavy, dusky 

 lines, as in L. borealis. 



Length, about 8.75; wing, about 3.80; tail, 3.90; bill, .50. 



The Loggerhead Shrike is a summer resident in southern Illinois 

 and perhaps farther north ; but is replaced in northern Illinois and 

 Wisconsin by the form, now recognized as a migrans. In a series 

 of specimens from various localities in Indiana and Illinois, the 

 majority are intermediate between ludovicianus and migrans; but 

 three from southern Illinois may be referred to ludovivianus. 



Perched on a stump or a commanding branch, the Loggerhead 

 watches for and swoops down upon his prey. Birds, beetles, grass- 

 hoppers, or even small mice are killed and hung in his larder. 



It breeds in May and June. The nest is a large rough structure, 

 composed of dry grass, small sticks, and feathers, built in a low tree 

 or hedge. The eggs are from 4 to 6, dull white, thickly spotted and 

 marked with brown and purplish gray, and measure about .98 x .74 

 inches. 



