352 THE NORTHERN SHRIKE. 



ing season, so tliat a small orchard nia_\" cimtain a dozen nests, while another 

 as good, a little way removed, has none. In the Nooksack Valley, near Glacier, 

 Air. Brown showed me a tin_\- pasture carved out of the woods, where he had 

 found, during the prex'inus season, six nests of the Cedarhird, placed at heights 

 ranging from three to six feet above the ground in small clumps of vine maple 

 or alder saidings. In Chelan we found them nesting in the tops of the 

 solilarv pine trees which line the stream. 



The female sits closely upon her eggs, not infrequently remaining until 

 forcibly remo\'ed. Once ofif, however, she makes away without complaint, 

 and pa}'S no further attention to the incident until the intruder has departed. 



Always of a most gentle disposition, when the nesting season arrives, 

 according to Mr. Bowles, these birds richly deser\-e the name of Love Birds. 

 A leaf from his note-book supports the statement : "July 7, 1896. To-day 

 I watched two Cedarbirds selecting a nesting site, first one location being- 

 tested, then another. Finally they decided upon a suitable ])lace and com- 

 menced picking both dry and green leaves from the surrounding trees, placing 

 them upon a liorizontal limb where two or three twigs projected,. Almost all 

 of these lea\es blew off as soon as placed, greatly to the surprise of the birds, 

 who solemnly watched them drop to the ground. These fallen leaves were 

 ne\er replaced, fresh ones being gathered instead, and these were always 

 secured from growing trees. Then one got a long strip of plant silk and, 

 placing it on the leaf foundation flew a foot or two away and lit. The other 

 bird promjitly ti)ok away the silk and brought it to its mate, who very gently 

 took it and put it back. This operation was repeated again and again. At 

 times both held the silk, sitting only an inch or two apart, whereupon the bird 

 who was the original finder would, iwy gently, pull it from the bill of its 

 mate and replace it. At the end of fifteen minutes of this loving passage I 

 was obliged to retire, and I sliall ne\er know whether the plant fiber was 

 successfull}' placed or merel_\- worn out." 



No. 135- 



NORTHERN SHRIKE. 



A. O. U. No. 621. Lanius borealis A'ieill. 



Synonyms. — Gre.\T Xorthkrx SuRiKr;. Butcher-bird. 



Description. — Adult: Upperparts clear, bluish gray, lightest — almost white^ 

 on upper tail-coverts; extreme forehead whitish: wings and tail black, the former 

 with a conspicuous white spot at base of primaries, the latter with large, white 

 terminal blotches on outer feathers, decreasing in size inwardly ; a black band 

 through eye. including auriciilars: below grayish white, the feathers of the breast 



