SHRIKES 393 



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

 tipped with buffy. Length : 8-10, wing- ;5.T5-4.10, tail o.75-4.o0, bill from 

 nostril .42-.50, deptli of bill at base .:5U-.o5. 



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

 Lower California and over the northern tablelands of Mexico. 



Nest. — In thorn-trees, liedges, 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 bis short little wings, and the way be holds up bis big 

 bead ; and when be alights bis clear grays and sharply contrasting 

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

 hedges, thorny bushes, and l^arbed wire fences, even when not using 

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

 spite of all accusations the shrike probably impales bis victims less 

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

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

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

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

 virtues, and harsh and strident as bis voice may be in the main, it 

 has interesting if not musical moments. 



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



I'p2>er parts slate gray, tinged with brownish ; upper tail coverts some- 

 times abruptly whitish as in excuhitorides .- under jjarts dull white or gray- 

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

 tinged with pale brown. Length: 8-10. wing- ;i.7<>-4.00, tail .■;.T5-4.."0, bill 

 from nostril .43-.48. depth at base .oO-.o'). 



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

 rumped by the darker colorjjtion of the under i)arts. In excuhitorides they 

 are ])ure white, in gauiheli usually vermiculated. darkened on the sides and 

 sometimes tinged with ])ale brown. 



Di.<itrihution. — Coast region of California. 



Nest. — ") to ."jO feet from the ground in willows, cypress, or oak : bulky, 

 made of coar.se twigs and .soft materials sucli as straw, grass, feathers, 

 cotton, and wool. Eggs : 4 to 7. gray, sometimes tinged witli green, spotted 

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

 end. 



]\Ir. Grimu'll says that the California shrike is such a i)ersistent 

 de.stroycr of the Jeru.salem cricket and other injurious insects that 

 it is undoubtedly one of our most beneficial birds from tin- agricul 

 tin-alist's standpoint and should be protected. 



622c. L. 1. anthonyi }Unrns. Island Shhikk. 



Similar to gttnilitli. but much <larki'r and smalhr ; undfi' parts gray, be- 

 (•(iniing- white on thioat and nndcr tail coverts ; upper parts dark slate gray ; 

 wliite .areas on wings and tail more restricted th.in in any of the /fu/t»r/- 

 rianus group. Length : S.7T. wing ■■1.74, t.ail l.<M», bill (i;',. 



Distribution. — Santa Barbara Islands, California. 



