186 



cherries ripen before wild forms the damage Waxwings can do is con- 

 siderable. The same amount of fruit distributed over many later trees 

 might pass unnoticed, but when the damage is concentrated upon the earliest 

 and most valuable part of the crop the loss is keenly felt. The protection 

 of early fruit from the depredations of this and a few other species of like 

 habit is a subject that has received considerable attention. To shoot all 

 birds visiting the orchard is one solution, but a very poor one. It gives only 

 partial protection and has to be repeated each season; for as long as any 

 rema n in the vicinity the annual increase will undo the results of previous 

 efforts. Besides, the entire community is deprived of the valuable 

 assistance of a number of species in order that a certain amount of early 

 fruit may be protected. A cover of netting is generally cheaper than 

 shooting. As the birds prefer wild to cultivated fruit early ripening wild 

 fruit trees in waste corners and along fences provide inexpensive protection. 

 The Russian Mulberry and Service-berry and later, the Black-currant, 

 Mountain ash. Raspberries, and Blackberries, Sumach, Alder, Wild grape. 

 Bittersweet, Nightshade, Snowberry, and Elders will serve the purpose. 



FAMILY — LANIIDiE. L. 9-10-32. SHRIKES. BUTCHER-BIRDS. 



General Description. The Shrikes are medium-sized passerine birds of raptorial 

 nature. They are easily recognized by their bills which are plainly hooked at the tip and 

 furnished with a notch and tooth near the end of the upper mandible (Figure 56, page 27). 

 The two species which occur in Canada are very similar in coloration and differ in minor 

 characters only (Plate XXXVIII A). 



The Shrikes are interesting examples of passerine or seed and insect- 

 eating birds adapted for a predatory life. The true raptores, the Hawks, 

 etc., which also prey upon the higher living forms, have powerful feet with 

 which to secure their food and hold it while they tear it with their bills. 

 The Shrikes are without these efficient grasping and holding limbs, having 

 in fact feet no stronger than those of a sparrow or blackbird of equal size. 

 They, therefore, seize prey with their bill and, to hold it while feeding, 

 have evolved the habit of impaling it upon strong thorns, etc.; this habit 

 gives them the popular title of Butcher-bird. Shrikes are bold, spirited 

 birds and quite as daring and capable in proportion to their size as any of 

 the true birds of prey. The family is large and widely distributed. Only 

 one genus is represented in America and two species in North America. 



621. Northern Shrike, butcher-bird. fr. — la pie-greiche boreale. Lanius 

 borealis. L, 10-32. Similar to the Loggerhead Shrike, (Plate XXXVIII A) but 

 larger and with a series of fine wavy lines or vermiculations faintly showing across most of 

 the underparts. 



Distinctions. General coloration and notched bill will distinguish this as a Shrike. 

 Size and the distinct vermiculations below will characterize it as the Northern Shrike. 



Field Marks. The sharply contrasted amount of black and white on the wings and 

 tail, the grey upperparts, and the black band through eye. Any Shrike seen in eastern 

 Canada in winter between October and March will be of this species. 



Nesting. In low trees or bushes in nest of twigs, grasses, etc. 



Distribution. Northern America, breeding beyond regular settlement across the 

 continent, south in winter. 



The Northern Shrike is the bolder and more energetic of our two species. 

 It is a northern breeder and is only seen in cultivated sections in the winter 

 where it follows the flocks of Snow Buntings, Redpolls, etc. It has shown 



