LANIID.E — TIIK SHIUKES. 



4ir, 



Collurio borealis, 



llAIKD. 



/ o: 



GREAT NORTHERN SHRIKE, OR BUTCHER-BIRD. 



L-iiuus borealis, Vikilloi-, Ois. Am. Sept. 1, 1SU7, UO, pi. 1. — Sw. — Auu. Syn. Ib. 



Birds Am. IV, 1842, 130, pi. ccx.xxvi. — Ca.ssin. — M.\x. Cab. Jour. VI, 185S, 190 

 (Upper Missouri). —.Jones, Nat. Bermuda, 1857, 51 (Bermuda). — Dresser & Siiarpe, 

 P. Z. S. 1870, 590. Collyrio borealis, Baihd, Birds N. Am. 1858, 324. — Cooi'EK & 

 SucKLKY, p. E. Rep. XIl, II, 1860, 188 (Washington Ten-itory). — Dall & Bannister, 

 280 (Ala,ska). — Samuels, Birds N. Eng. 268. Oollurio borcalk, Batrd, Rev. Am. B. 

 1864, 440. Lanius excubitor, Forster, Phil. Traus. LXll, 1772, 3S2 (not of Linn.bv.s). 

 — Wilson, I, 1808, 74, pi. v, fig. 1. Lanius scptcntrionulii, Bon. Syn. 1828, 72 (not 

 of Gmelin, which cannot be identified as an American .species). — Cooper, Orn. Cal. 

 I, 1870, 137. — Cassin, Pr. a. N. Sc. 1857, 213. — Mri:ii.\y, Ed. New Pliil. .tnnr. 

 XI, 1859, 223 (H. B. T.). 



Hab. Whole of America north of United States; in winter south to \Vashiiij;ton, St, 

 Louis, Preseott (Arizona), and North California; Bermuda (winter, .Tones). 



The descriptiou of thi.s and the succeeding .'jpecies \\\\\ Ije iound on page 

 413. In winter, the colors, especially of the immature birds, are quite 

 different from those described. The plumage of the adult, in winter, differs 

 from that of spring as follows : the lores and nasal tufts are wliitisli, instead 

 of pure, sharply defined black, with, 

 however, some of the hair-like fibres 

 blackish. The ash above is a little 

 less clear, the white beneath less pure ; 

 the under mandible whitish at the Imse. 

 An immature bird, in winter, lias tlie ash 

 above overlaid by a wash of reddish- 

 brown, producing a prevailing uniform 

 light-brown tint ; the black on side of 

 head is reduced to an obsolete patcli un 

 the ear-coverts. Tlie dull white beneatli 

 is every wliere — sometimes even on tlie 

 lower tail-coverts — covered witli nu- 

 merous bars of dusky, more sharply 

 defined, and darker tlian in the adult. 



Eastern specimens appear to have as much while on the ruiiq) as Western 

 ones. 



Habits. In the breeding-season tliis species of Shrike is found in all 

 North America nortli of tlie United States, and is said to breed also within 

 our territory, in mountainous districts. Such, at least, is the statement of 

 Mr. Audubon,' and Wilson leaves us to infer tlie .same tiling by giving a 

 minute description of its nest and eggs. But Audubon may have con- 

 founded this species with t\ve exciihitor aides, a.\\d^ Wilson, a])ii;irently lielieving 

 our species and the r.rcvMtor of Huro]K' to be identical, may have had tlie 



"If,' 



Cnllyria ezcitbitoroiiles. 



