418 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



aud three and a lialF in height. Tlie cavity is proportionately large and 

 deep, having a diameter of four and a half inclies, and a depth of two. 

 Except the base, which is composed of a few twigs and stalks of coarser 

 plants, tlie ne.st is made entirely of warm and soft materials, most elaborately 

 interworked together. These materials are feathers from various birds, tine 

 down of the Eider and other ducks, fine mosses and lichens, slender stems, 

 grasses, etc., and are skilfully aud artistically wrought into a beautittd and 

 symmetrical nest, strengthened by the interposition of a few slender twigs 

 and stems without affecting the general felt-like character of the whole. The 

 egg measures 1.10 inches by .80, and is of a light greenish ground, marbled 

 and streaked with blotches of obscure-purple, clay-color, and rufous-brown. 



Sir John llichardson found this a by no means uncommon fiird in the 

 woody districts, at least as far as the si.xteentli parallel. < )u account 

 of its reseml)lance to the Canada Jay, the Indians called it the " White 

 Whiskey-Jolin." It remains all winter in the fur regions, but is much more 

 numerous in summer. He states that the nest is built in the fork of a tree, 

 of dry grass and lichens neatly intertwined, and lined \vitli feathers. 



Collurio ludovicianus, r.-viEn. 



SOTTTHEKN SHEIKE ; LOGGERHEAD. 



Lanuis ludovicianus, Li.\n. Syst. Nat. 1706, 134 (baseJ on Laniiis ludoviciantis, BuissoN, 

 II, 162, tab. XV, fig. 2.) — Aud. Orn. Biog. I, 1831, 300, pi. xxxvii. — Ib. Binls Am. 

 IV, pi. ccxxxvii. — Cassin, Pr. A. N. Sc. 1857, 213. CoUyrio ludovicianus, B.vihd, 

 Birds N. Am. 1858, 325. Collurio ludov. Baird, Rev. Am. B. 1864, 443. Lunius 

 ardosificeiui, Vii;ii,i,OT, Ois. Am. Sept. I, 1807, 81, pi. li. Lanius carolinensis, WiLS. 

 Am. Orn. Ill, 1811, 57, pi. xxii, fig. 5. 



Hab. South Atlantic (and Gulf?) States. 



The young bird is c^uite different from the adult, differing as does that of 

 excuhitoroides, but the colors are all darker than in the corresponding age of 

 that species. 



Habits. This species, if we regard it as distinct from tlie excuhitoroides, 

 has apparently a very restricted distribution, being confined to tlie South 

 Atlantic and Gulf States. I am not aware that it has been found farther 

 nortli than North Carolina. It is not common, according to Audubon, 

 either in Louisiana or Mississippi, and ])robably only occurs there in the 

 winter. I have had its eggs from Soutli Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. 

 Dresser speaks of this Shrike as common in Texas in summer, and Dr. 

 Woodhouse states that he found it very abundant in Texas and tlie Indian 

 Territory. Tliese observations may probably apply to the; kiuth-ed race, ex- 

 culitoroidcs, and not to this form. 



It is said to be exclusively a bird of tlie lo^\•lauds, and never to be met 

 with in the mountainous parts, even of its restricted habitat. 



/ i^ . 



