( 461 ) 

 14. Lanius ludovicianus. 



Laninx linhu-iiianun Linn., .S'. .V. i. p. 134 (17i)ti) ; (iadow, t. c. \j. 245. 



Lnnius ardosiaceux Vieill., Ois. Am. i. p. 81. PI. LI. (ISl)7). 



LanJUH cfiruliiimsis Wilson, Am. Orn. iii. p. 57. PI. XXII. fig. .5 (1811) (Carolina, Georgia). 



Lanius (.Tcuhitoroides Swains & Rich., Faiiii. Bnr.-Atncr. ii. p. 115 (nee PI. XXXIV.*) (18.'11). 



Laniu.i mexicanua Brehm, ././. 0. 1854. p. 145 (Mexico). 



Lanius ludovicianus i/aniljeli Ridgw., Man. X. Am. H. p. 407 (1887) (Coast district, California). 



Lanius ludovicianus migrans Palmer, Aiil-. xv. p. 248 (1898) (Ontario). 



Lanius ludovicianus anlhoni/i Mearns, Auk. xv. p. 2GI (1898) (Sta. Cruz I., California). 



Adult male. — Closely resembles the male of L. imcinatus in colour, markings, 

 aud size ; but in the great majoritj' of adult speeimeus the outer ])air of tail- 

 feathers have the basal half of the inner web black, the pattern of the tail-feathers 

 being almost as in L. major. A small percentage of individuals have the outer 

 pair of tail-feathers white or almost white, and in the fifth pair the black ou the 

 inner web is reduced. This difference is not due to age, as it occurs in birds of the 

 year with light edges to the secondary coverts still conspicuous ; nor is it dependent 

 on locality. Birds in this latter plumage are almost indistingnishable from 

 L. tincinatus, the latter being only recognised by the larger and more hooked bill. 



Total length ca. 85 in. ; wing S'S — 3-9, tail 3-8, tarsus l-(l.5. 



Adult female. — Does not differ from the adult male. 



Younger e.ramples have the chest and sides of the breast somewhat indistinctly 

 barred with dusky. 



Youiiij birds. — Have the upper parts, chest, aud breast tinged with sandy brown; 

 the crown, nape, scajiulars, and upjier tail-coverts tiuely barred with dusky, iinil the 

 wing-coverts edged with Imfl'. 



After very careful examination of more than two hundred specimens of this 

 species from all parts of its range, 1 am unable to see any reason for recognising 

 more than one form. 



Hah. Nortli America, ranging throughout the United States, north to C!anada, 

 and southwards to South Mexico. 



l.\ Lanius lahtora (I'l. XXVlll. tig. 13). 



Collurio luhtora Sykes, P. Z. S'. 1832. p. 86 (Deccan) ; id., ./..I..S'. Bnvj. iii. p. 423 ( 1834). 

 Lanius lahlora 3. E. Gray, III. Ind. Zool. ii. PI. XXXII. (1834) ; Gadow, t. c. p. 252. 

 Lanius hurra J. E. Gray, 111. Ind. Zool. ii. PI. XXXIII. fig. 3 (1834). 

 Lanius lalhora (sic) Bogd., t. c. pp. 168, 212, and 220. 



Adult male. — Distinguished from all the jjreviously mentioned species by the 

 fairly wide and well-marked black l)and across the forehead, which is continued 

 beyond the ear-coverts down the -sides of the nec/c (see PI. XXIV.). In none of the 

 species previously mentioned does it extend beyond the ear- coverts. The secondary 

 (pills are black, very widely tipped with white ; the tips of the median aud inner 

 (^uills being about half an inch wide ; the greater part of the inner web is wliite, 

 except the basal part next the shaft, and the white also extends somewhat widely 

 down the margin of the outer web for about one-third of the entire length of the 

 feather ; the tail is very similarly marked to that of L. palUdirostris, the outer 

 pair of feathers being entirely white, with black shafts, or with a small amount of 

 black at the base of the inner web. 



* This plate appears to have been drawn from a specimen of L. mcridionalis. 



