North American Birds Eggs. 



283 



[Light gray. 



620. Phainopepla. Phainopepla nitens. 

 Range.— Southwestern United States and Mexico; north to southern T'tah and 



This peculiar crested species is wholly shining blue black 

 except for a patch of white on the inner webs of the primaries. 

 Their habits are somewhat like those of the Cedar-bird, tliey 

 being restless, and feeding upon berries or insects, catching 

 the latter in the air. They make loosely constructed nests of 

 twigs, mosses, plant fibres, etc., placed on branches of trees, 

 usually below 20 feet from the ground, in thickets or open 

 woods near water; the eggs are two or three in number, light 

 gray, spotted sharply with black; size .88 x .65. Data.— Pasadena, Cal., July 

 15, 1894. Nest in an oak 10 feet up; composed of weeds and string. Collector, 

 Horace Gay lord. 



SHRIKES. Family LAN II D/E. 



62 1. Northern Shrike. Lanius borcalis. 



Range. — North America, breeding north of our borders; winters in nc^rthern 

 half of the United States and casually farther south. 



All Shrikes are similar in nature and plumage, being 

 grayish above and white below, with black wings, tail and -p. - . . - ■. ^ 

 ear patches, and with white outer tail feathers and bases of wit '. 'J •>■-'' '^t(••■'iii 

 primaries; the present species may be known by its larger " ■^- - - — 



size (length over 10 inches) and wavy dusky lines on the 

 breast. They are bold and cruel birds, feeding upon 

 insects, small rodents and small birds, in the capture of r ■ - -• h 

 which they display great cunning and courage; as they [<'rayish white. 1 

 have weak feet, in order to tear their prey to pieces with their hooked bill, they 

 impale it upon thorns. They nest in thickets and tangled underbrush, making 

 their nests of vines, grasses, catkins, etc., matted together into a rude structure. 

 During April or May they lay from four to six grayish white eggs, spotted and 

 blotched with yellowish brown and umber; size 1.05 x .75. 



622. Loggerhead Shrike. Lanius ludovicianus. 

 Range.— United States, east of the Plains, breeding north to New England and 

 Illinois; winters in Southern States. 



Like the last but smaller (length 9 inches), not marked 

 below and with the ear patches sharply defined. They nest in 

 hedges or thickly tangled brush, showing a predilection for 

 dense thorn bushes, where they place their piles of weeds, 

 grasses, feathers and rubbish; the four or five eggs are laid in 

 April or May; they are like those of the last, but smaller, aver- 

 aging .96 X .72. 



[Grayish wliite 



622a. White-rumped Shrike. L. I. excubitoridcs. 



Range. — North America, west of the Plains, breeding north to Manitoba and 

 the Saskatchewan; winters south to Mexico. 



Like the last but paler and the rump white. Their nesting habits and eggs 

 are in every respect like those of the Loggerhead Shrike. 



622b. California Shrike. L. I. gambeli. 



Range.— Pacific coast north to British Columbia. 



Similar to the eastern form but with the breast washed with brownish and with 

 indistinct wavy bars. The eggs cannot be distinguished from those of the 

 others. 



622c. Island Shrike. L. I. anthonyi. 

 Range.— Santa Barbara Islands, California. 

 Like the last but smaller and darker. Eggs not distinguishable. 



