NORTHERN SHRIKE 115 



of birds from which my set of six eggs was taken on June 3. This 

 second nest was located about 400 yards from the first; it had been 

 built and the six eggs laid in the short time that intervened. 



Eggs. — The usual set for the northern shrike may consist of two to 

 nine eggs, though I believe that any sets of less than four are incom- 

 plete and that the large number of nine is unusual ; probably four to 

 six are the usual numbers. Wliat few eggs of this species I have seen 

 are ovate or rounded-ovate and nearly lusterless. The ground color is 

 grayish white or greenish white, and they are usually heavily spotted 

 or blotched over the entire surface, seldom having the spots concen- 

 trated at one end, with olive-brown, dull olive, or pale dull brown, and 

 with underlying spots and blotches of different pale shades of Quaker 

 drab or lavender. The measurements of 31 eggs average 26.7 by 19.5 

 millimeters; the eggs showing the four extremes measure 28.0 by 20.0, 

 27.0 by 20.5, and 25.9 by 18.5 millimeters. 



Plumages. — A very full account of all the plumages of all the North 

 American shrikes has been published by Dr. Alden H. Miller (1931), 

 to which the reader is referred ; his descriptions are given in too much 

 detail to be quoted here. Dr. Dwight (1900) describes the juvenal 

 plumage of a specimen taken in Labrador, as follows : "Above, brown- 

 ish mouse-gray with indistinct vermiculations, especially on the rump. 

 Wings black, a white area at bases of primaries; the coverts, terti- 

 aries and secondaries edged with wood-brown, or pale cinnamon 

 mottled from irregidar extension of the color, and similar tipping 

 on the rectrices which are black, the lateral ones largely white. Below 

 mouse-gray, nearly white on mid-abdomen, indistinctly vermiculated, 

 more marked on sides and crissum. Bar through eye dull clove- 

 brown; lores grayish." 



A partial post juvenal molt occurs, mainly in July and August, 

 which involves the contour plumage and the wing coverts, but not the 

 rest of the wings or the tail, producing a first winter plumage, which 

 Dr. Dwight (1900) describes as follows: "Above, French gi*ay washed 

 with brownish gi*ay, the rump grayish white. Lesser coverts ciner- 

 eous gray, the median black, the retained greater coverts dull black 

 buff tipped. Below grayish white with indistinct dusky vermicula- 

 tions except on the chin, abdomen and crissum. Tail black, the 

 three outer rectrices with much white. Lores grayish. Bar through 

 eye dusky." 



He says that the first nuptial plumage is "acquired by a partial 

 prenuptial moult in March which involves the anterior part of the 

 head, chin and throat. A whiter chin and black lores are acquired, 

 young and old becoming practically indistinguishable. A good deal 

 of the vermiculation is lost by wear of the feather edges." Dr. Miller 

 (1931) says that this molt, "as far as known, occurs in March and 

 April and is associated with the change of the bill from brown to 



