418 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



and three and a half in height. The cavity is proportionately large and 

 deep, having a diameter of four and a half inches, and a depth of two. 

 Except the base, which is composed of a few twigs and stalks of coarser 

 plants, the nest is made entirely of warm and soft materials, most elaborately 

 interworked together. These materials are feathers from various birds, hne 

 down of the Eider and other ducks, fine mosses and lichens, slender stems, 

 grasses, etc., and are skilfully and artistically wrought into a beautiful and 

 symmetrical nest, strengthened by the interposition of a few slender twigs 

 and stems without affecting the general felt-like character of the whole. The 

 egg measures 1.10 inches by .80, and is of a light greenish ground, marbled 

 and streaked with blotches of obscure-purple, clay-color, and rufous -brown. 



Sir John Eichardson found this a by no means uncommon bird in the 

 woody districts, at least as far as the sixteentli parallel. On account 

 of its resemblance to the Canada Jay, the Indians called it the " White 

 Whiskey-John." It remains all winter in the fur regions, but is much more 

 numerous in summer. He states that the nest is built in the fork of a tree, 

 of dry grass and lichens neatly intertwined, and lined witli feathers. 



CoUurio ludovicianus, Baird. 



SOUTHERN SHRIKE; LOGGERHEAD. 



Lanius ludovicianus, LiXN. Syst. Nat. 1766, 134 (based on Lanius luclovicianus, Brisson, 

 II, 162, tab. XV, fig. 2). — AuD. Orn. Biog. I, 1831, 300, pi. xxxvii. — Ib. Birds Am. 

 IV, pi. ccxxxvii. — Cassin, Pr. A. N. Sc. 1857, 213. Collyrio ludoviciamis, Baird, 

 Birds N. Am. 1858, 325. CoUurio ludov. Baird, Rev. Am. B. 1864, 443. La/imis 

 ardosiaceus, Vieillot, Ois. Am. Sept. I, 1807, 81, pi. li. Lanius carolimnsis, WiLS. 

 Am. Oni. Ill, 1811, 57, pi. xxii, fig. 5. 



Hab. South Atlantic (and Gulf?) States. 



The young bird is quite different from the adult, differing as does that of 

 excuhitoroidcs, but the colors are all darker than in the corresponding age of 

 that species. 



Habits. This species, if we regard it as distinct from tlie cxciibitoroides, 

 has apparently a very restricted distribution, being confined to the South 

 Atlantic and Gulf States. I am not aware that it has been found farther 

 north than North Carolina. It is not common, according to Audubon, 

 either in Louisiana or Mississippi, and probably only occurs there in the 

 winter. I have had its eggs from South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. 

 Dresser speaks of this Shrike as common in Texas in summer, and Dr. 

 Woodhouse states that he found it very abundant in Texas and tlie Indian 

 Territory. These observations may probably apply to the kindred race, ex- 

 cuhitoroides, and not to this form. 



It is said to be exclusively a bird of the lowlands, and never to be met 

 with in the mountainous parts, even of its restricted habitat. 



