ONTARIO. 



their position, sentinel like, on the topmost twig of a low tree 

 or bush from which they notice all that moves within a certain 

 radius. 



I once saw a pair of these birds imite to hunt down an un- 

 fortunate Junco. It took shelter in a patch of scrubby brush, 

 and the Shrikes, not being able to clutch it as a Hawk would 

 have done, sought to wear it out by fright and fatigue. As 

 there were two of them taking the work b}' turns, they would 

 probably have succeeded had I not stopped the proceedings by 

 collecting the two Shrikes, and so saving the life of the Junco. 

 They, no doubt, breed in the northern portion of the Province, 

 but in the south I have not heard of their being found so 

 engaged. 



242. LANUS LUDOVICIANUS (Linn.). 022. 



LiOffgerhesid Shrike. 



Slate colored, slightly whitish on the rump and scapulars ; below white, 

 with a few obscure wavy black lines, or none ; black bar on one side of the 

 head, meeting its fellow across the forehead, not interrupted by white on under 

 eyelid, and scarcely or not bordered above by hoary white ; otherwise like 

 borealis in color, but smaller ; 8-8,\ ; wing, about 4 ; tail, rather more. 



Hab. Eastern United States, north to Maine, west to the Prairies of the 

 Upper Mississippi Valley. 



Nest, in a tree or bush not often more than 15 feet from the ground, the 

 middle of a thorn being often selected. 



The eggs cannot with certainty be distinguished from those of the White- 

 rumped Shrike. 



This and the ne.xt species resemble each other so closely as 

 to raise a doubt in the minds of many whether or not they 

 should ever have been separated. Dr. Coues in his "New Key" 

 says on this subject : " Extreme examples of Excubitoridcs look 

 very different irovaLiidovicianns proper, but the two are observed 

 to melt into each other when many specimens are compared, so 

 that no specific characters can be assigned." All those I have 

 found near Hamilton agree best with the description given of 

 Excubitoridcs, but there are other observers who think we have 

 both kinds, and some believe we have Ludoviciantis only. As 



243 



