THE CALIFORNIA SHRIKE. 357 



It is curious that in Washington we ha\e seen no signs of the out-door 

 larder, consisting of grasshoppers, mice, garter-snakes, etc., impaled on thorns, 

 which the eastern birds of this species are usually careful to maintain some- 

 where in the vicinity of the nest. It may be simph' that the lack of con- 

 venient thorns accounts for this absence, or for the failure of the habit. 



Altho this bird belongs to a bad breed, one containing, among others, the 

 notorious "Xcuntotcr," or Ninekiller, of northern Europe, concerning which 

 tradition maintains that it is never satisfied until it has made a kill of nine 

 birds hand-running, the evidence seems to be overwhelmingly in its favor. 

 Birds are found to constitute only eight per cent of this bird's food thrtiout 

 the year, while, on account of its services in ridding the land of undoubted 

 vermin, its presence is to be considered highly beneficial. 



No. 137- 



CALIFORNIA SHRIKE. 



A. O. U. Xo. 622 b. Laniiis ludovicianus gambeli Ridgway. 



Description. — Similar to L. I. e.vcubitoridcs but decidedly darker, duller gray 

 above ; underparts more sordid, tinged with brownish or with more or less distinct 

 transverse vermiculation of pale brownish gray on chest and sides of breast; 

 averaging slightly smaller. 



Recognition Marks. — As in preceding — duller. 



Nesting. — As in /.. /. e.vcubitoridcs — has not yet been reported from Wash- 

 ington. 



General Range. — Paciiic Coast district from southwestern British Columbia 

 to northern Lower California; south in winter to Cape St. Lucas and western 

 Mexico. 



Range in Washington. — Rare summer resident west of the Cascades. 



Authorities. — ? ( )rn. Com., Journ. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. VII. 1837, 193 

 (Columbia River). Lanius ludovicianus excubitorides Lawrence, Auk, IX. 

 1892, 46. 



RESIDENT Shrikes, presumably referable to this recently elaborated 

 subspecies, are exceedingly rare in western Washington. Mr. Bowles has not 

 seen any near Tacoma, and neither Mr. Rathbun nor myself have encountered 

 them in Seattle. Mr. R. H. Lawrence, however, notes having seen three 

 "White-rimiped Shrikes" on Jtme 10, 1890, in a small clearing on the Hump- 

 tulips River*. 



The smaller Shrikes are birds of the open country, and the}- should be 

 found in at least Lewis, Thurston, and Pierce Counties. 



a. Birds of Gray's Harbor, \\'ash., Auk, Vol. IX., Jan., 1892, p. 46. 



