SHRIKES 393 



contrasted, washed with brown and narrowly barred, the wing coverts 



tipped with buffy. Length: 8-10, wing- O.T5-4.10, tail 3.75-4.30, bill from 

 nostril .42-..J0. depth of bill at base .;5U-.35. 



Distribution. — Breeds from British Columbia and Hudson Bay south to 

 Lower California and over the northern tablelands of Mexico. 



Nest. — In thorn-trees, hedges, briers, and cactus ; bulky, made of sticks 

 and stems, leaves, wool, and feathers ; lined with stems of grass and 

 weeds, and sometimes hairs. Eggs: 4 to 6, grayish to yellowish white, 

 spotted with brown and lilac. 



Food. — Mice, birds, and insects — chiefly grasshoppers. 



A shrike may be recognized as far as seen by his level flight, the 

 beating of his short little wings, and the way he holds up his big 

 head ; and when he alights his clear grays and sharply contrasting 

 blacks and whites mark him afar. He is partial to Sarcohatiis flats, 

 hedges, thorny bushes, and barbed wire fences, even when not using 

 the barbs as letter files for his superfluous catch of grasshoppers. In 

 spite of all accusations the shrike probably impales his victims less 

 because of original sin than because of original scarcity of supplies, 

 and only a short time ago he was seen by a California observer re- 

 turning to his catch and eating it with marked relish. {The Condor, 

 iv. 49.) Nor is he such a villain as to be wanting in sound domestic 

 virtues, and harsh and strident as his voice may be in the main, It 

 has interesting if not musical moments. 



622b. L. 1. gambeli Ridgw. California Shrike. 



Upper parts slate gray, tinged with brownish ; upper tail coverts some- 

 times abruptly whitish as in excuhitorides ; under parts dull nhite or gray- 

 ish, darker on sides, breast usually distinctly vermiculated and .sometimes 

 tinged with pale brown. Length : 8-10, wing 3.70-4.00, tail 3.75-4.00, bill 

 from nostril .43- .48, depth at base .30-35. 



Remarks. — The California shrike may be distinguished from the white- 

 rumped by the darker coloration of the under parts. In excuhitorides they 

 are pure white, in gamheli usually vermieulated, darkened on the sides and 

 sometimes tinged with pale brown. 



Distribution. — Coast region of California. 



Nest. — 5 to 30 feet from the ground in willows, cypress, or oak ; bulky, 

 made of coarse twigs and soft materials such as straw, grass, feathers, 

 cotton, and woob Eggs: 4 to 7, gray, sometimes tinged with green. spotted 

 with light brown and sometimes purple, usually heaviest around the larger 

 end. 



Mr. GrJMiu'll says that the California shrike is such a jHTsistent 

 destroyer of tlic Jerusalem cricket and other injurious insects that 

 it is imdoubtedly one of our most beneficial birds from the agricul- 

 turalist's standpoint and sboidd be j^rotected. 



622c. L. 1. anthonyi Mmrns. Island Shhikk. 



Similar to gamhili. but nuicli darker and smaller ; under parts gray, be- 

 cuniiiig white on tl)roat ;ind nndir tail coverts ; upper parts dark .slate gray ; 

 white area.s on w ings aixl t.iil more restricted than in any of the ludovi- 

 riatius group. Length: S.77. wing .'5.74, tail l.(M). bill .03. 



Distribution. — Santa Barbara Islands, California. 



