356 



THE WHITE-RUMPED SHRIKE. 



Taken in Doughs Lojmty. Flioto by the Autltor. 



NEST AND EGGS OF WHITE-KUMPED SHRIKE, 



bird moves either by successi\'e plunges and noisy reascensicins, ijr else pitclies 

 downward from his perch and wings rapidly over the surface uf the vegetation. 

 The Sage Shrikes are prolific and attentive breeders. The first brood is 

 brought off about the ist of May, but fresh eggs may sometimes be found 

 as early as the last week in March in the southern part of the State. A 

 second brood may be expected from June ist to 15th. 



The nest is a bulky 

 but usually well-built 

 affair, placed habitually 

 in a sage bush, or a 

 greasewood clump, with 

 wild clematis for third 

 choice. The structure is 

 designed for warmth 

 and comfort, so that, 

 whenever possible, to 

 the thickened walls of 

 plant fibers, cowhair, or 

 sheep's wool, is added an 

 inner lining of feathers, 

 and these not infre- 

 quently ctud over the 

 edge so as completely to 

 conceal the nest contents. 

 One nest examined in 

 Walla \\'alla County 

 contained the following 

 materials : Willow twigs, 

 broom-sage twigs, sage 

 bark, weed stems, dried 

 yarrow leaves, dried 

 sage leaves, hemp, wool, 

 rabbit fur, horse-hair, 

 cow-hair, chicken feath- 

 ers, string, rags, and 

 sand, besides a thick mat 

 of finely comminuted scales, soft and shiny, the accumulated horny waste 

 from the growing wing-quills of the crowded young — altogether a sad mess. 

 The ])arent birds are singularly indifferent as a rule to the welfare of a 

 nest containing eggs alone. The female sits close, but once flushed, stands 

 clinking in the distance, or else absents herself entirely. When the young are 

 hatched, howc\'er, the old birds are ca])able of a spirited and deafening defense. 



