564 APPENDIX. 



An Eared species much greater than Strix virginiana, darker, more 

 mixed with fulvous, and without the white crescent under the 

 chin. The irids were also fiery red instead of sulpher or golden 

 yellow. Whether this species has yet been published or otherwise I 

 am unable to say, but leave it to further inquiry. 



LANIUS BOREALIS, Richard. a.nd Sicains. North. Zool. ii. p, 

 111. pi. 33. [female.] 

 Note. Mr. Swainson on comparing this species with the European 

 L. excubitor finds that it is obviously larger ; the 2d quill is also 

 shorter than the 6th ; the 3d a little shorter than the 4th, and longer 

 than the 5th ; the 4th being longest ; and this disposition of the quills 

 prevails equally in both sexes. In L. excubitor the 3d and 4th quills 

 are of equal length and the longest, while the 2d is exactly as long as 

 the 6th. 



So complete, at times, is the resemblance between the Mocking- 

 Bird ( Orpheus polyglottus) and this species of Lanius, that it is diffi- 

 cult to distinguish them apart. I have lately heard one (November 

 10th, 1833), employed in a low and soft warble resembling that of the 

 Song Sparrow at the present season, and immediately after, his note 

 changed to that of the Cat-Bird. Like that preeminent minstrel the 

 Orpheus, he also mounts to the topmost spray of some lofty tree to 

 display his deceptive talent, and mislead the small birds so as to bring 

 them within his reach. His attitudes are also light and airy, and his 

 graceful flowing tail is kept in fantastic motion. 



AMERICAN GREY SHRIKE. 



(Lanius excubitor oides, Swains. North. Zool. ii. p. 115. pi. 34.) 

 Sp. Charact. — Deep pearl grey ; beneath wholly white; the bill, 

 frontal line, and a band passing over the eye and cheek, black ; 

 wings short; tail narrow, long wedge-form, black, with a white 

 lateral border. 



This bird, which in winter is seen in the vicinity of 

 Boston, is a more southern species in its summer range than 

 the L. horealis. According to Richardson it does not ad- 

 vance farther north than the 54th parallel ; and it attains 



