27 



As the JSTorthern Shrike is with us only in the winter it cannot be expected to 

 feed largely upon insects, yet I have rarely examined the stomach contents of one 

 of these birds, without finding at least the remains of a few beetles. When they 

 first arrive in the autumn, however, their principal food consists of moths, grass- 

 hoppers, and such other insects as retain their vitality until frost comes. After that 

 they feed upon mice and such small birds as remain here in winter; the House 

 Sparrow forming a considerable portion of their fare. 



T have never seen the Loggerhead Shrike kill a bird, nor have I ever noticed one 

 hung up in its shambles, but it does destroy a great immber of the larger insects 

 and a good many mice. This is one of the very few birds that will eat the hairy 

 caterpillars, commonly known as "woolly bears"; of these the Loggerhead seems to 

 be rather fond. I have often found them among its stomach contents, and on the 

 12th of April, 1899, I took a specimen, the stomach of which was perfectly filled 

 with them. 



SHRIKES. 

 DescripUon. 

 NOETHEEN SHEIKE. 



Adult. Upper parts clear bluish ash, becoming white on upper tail coverts and 

 scapulars. A black bar alongside of the head not meeting on forehead ; fore- 

 head whitish. Wings and tail black ; primaries white at the base, secondaries tipped 

 with white; tail feathers tipped with white, the outer feathers mostly white: 

 under parts white, barred with fine waw blackish lines: bill hooked and hawk- 

 like. 



Immature. Similar, but entire plumage more or less heavily suffused with 

 grayish brown. 



' L., 10.32; W., 4.50; T., 4.00. 

 Nest, in low trees or bushes. Eggs, four to six dull greenish gray, marked and 

 spotted with obscure purple, light brown, or olive. 



LOGGEEHEAD SHEIKE. 



Upper parts slaty gray, whitish on scapulars and upper tail coverts; wings and 

 tail black, primaries white at base, secondaries tipped with white ; tail feathers tip- 

 ped with white, the outer one mostly white; a black bar on each side of the head, 

 connected by a narrow black line across the forehead at base of the bill. Under parts 

 always white. 



L., 8.50; W., 3.80; T., 3.85. 



Nest, in low trees or thorny bushes. Eggs, five or six, similar to those of last 

 species, but smaller. 



SANDPIPEES AXD PLOVEE. 



These two groups contain a large number of spet-ies, most of which are of 

 interest to sportsmen ; but only four of them, two Saiid]npers and two Plover, resort 

 to the cultivated fields of Ontario. The otbers arc cliictly birds of Ibe snndy ])('aches 

 and muddy margins of the marshes, on which during the migrations they used to 

 gather in vast flocks. Constant persecution has now so reduced their numbers, that 

 the larg'er and more desirable varieties have become vorv scarce. 



