LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE. 547 



was busily engaged in taking his dimier ot" grasshoppers, which he captured by diving 

 .downwards from his elevated position, and, after seizing them in his strong bill, he 

 returried to his former position to devour them. These and other insects appear to 

 form the only food of this species in Florida ; at least such is the result of my observa- 

 tions, after having seen many specimens while livmg, and after dissecting two or three 

 scores that had been shot. I can therefore say in fixvor of the Shrikes that I have never 

 seen them attempt to capture small birds although they were abundant, nor have I found 

 juight else tlian insectivorous food in their stomachs. Another good proof of their harm- 

 lessness to the smaller species may be seen in tlie fact that the Warblers, Sparrows, etc., 

 never ajjpear to exhibit any fear of the Shrike. Another peculiarity of these birds in 

 this section is, that they do not have the general hal»it of impaling insects upon thorn 

 bushes, etc., although other Shrikes are reported as so .doing in other states. Indeed I 

 can recall but one or two instances where I have seen them thus employed ; the abun- 

 dance of food may also be the cause of this. 



It is a universal haljit with the Loggei'head to resort to localities like that in which I 

 found my first specimen, especially in the neighborhood of settlements, and one is almost 

 certain to find a pair in the immediate vicinity of any lonely house which is built in the 

 woods if it has a small clearing about it. In the wilder portions where there are no 

 inhabitants they resort to the edges of the open savannis or prairies, but it is difficult to 

 find more than two in the same locality. They are (juite unsuspicious when accustomed 

 to the presence of man, but in the wilderness are very shy. The Shrikes breed in April, 

 generally placing their nests in trees at some distance from the ground. The only one 

 which I ever found was in a fork of a branch on a pine tree, more than forty feet from 

 the ground. Tne structure was pointed out to nie by some wreckers who had a house 

 within a few rods of the place, and who kindly assisted me in procuring the egg.s, which 

 was not an easy task as the birds had placed their domicile upon a slender limb at some 

 distance from the trunk. I managed, however, to secure it b}' means of a long cleft stick 

 ■which I pushed under it, as I clung to the tree, and raising it from its place di'ew it 

 towards me until within reach. This performance was rendered somewhat perilous by the 

 wind, which, as it was blowing almost a gale at the time, nearly threw me from the tree. 

 The birds were very solicitous for the safety of their home, for they tlew excitedly about, 

 alighting upon the neighboring trees and uttering their harsh alarm notes. This gutteral 

 sound, usually expressive of annoyance, is occasionally given during winter in place of 

 the song, which is quite fine although not equal to that of the Northern Shi'ike. While 

 giving this melody, the bird is perched in an upright situation, resembling the Mocking 

 Bird in this respect. The general i-oloration and manner of Hight of the Loggerhead are 

 also like that of the latter-named species, l)ut one who is at all familiar with the habits of 

 these two birds would readily detect the Shrike by his more erect caniage while sitting, 

 and stouter, shorter form while living. The LotrLcerhead breeds in Florida in the 

 latter part of April, and I have taken the newly tledged young about the fifteenth 

 of May. 



