GREAT AMERICAN SHRIKE. IQJJ 



climate, from ferruginous to pale ash, and even to a bluish white, ren- 

 ders it impossible that this should be an exact representation of every 

 individual. 



This species is by no means numerous in the lower parts of Pennsyl- 

 vania ; though most so during the months of November, December and 

 March. Soon after this it retires to the north, and to the higher inland 

 parts of the country to breed. It frequents the deepest forests ; builds 

 a large and compact nest in the upright fork of a small tree, composed 

 outwardly of dry grass, and whitish moss, and warmly lined within with 

 feathers. The female lays six eggs, of a pale cinereous color, thickly 

 marked at the greater end with spots and streaks of rufous. She sits 

 fifteen days. The young are produced early in June, sometimes 

 towards the latter end of May ; and during the greater part of the 

 first season are of a brown ferruginous color on the back. 



When we compare the beak of this species, with his legs and claws, 

 they appear to belong to two very different orders of birds ; the former 

 approaching, in its conformation, to that of the Accipitrine ; the latter 

 to those of the Pies ; and, indeed, in his food and manners, he is assimi- 

 lated to both. For though man has arranged and subdivided this nu- 

 merous class of animals into separate tribes and families, yet nature has 

 united these to each other by such nice gradations, and so intimately, 

 that it is hardly possible to determine where one tribe ends, or the suc- 

 ceeding commences. We therefore find several eminent naturalists 

 classing this genus of birds with the Accipitrine, others with the Pies. 

 Like the former he preys, occasionally, on other birds ; and like the 

 latter on insects, particu^rly grasshoppers, which I believe to be his 

 principal food ; having at almost all times, even in winter, found them 

 in his stomach. In the month of December, and while the country was 

 deeply covered with snow, I shot one of these birds, near the head 

 waters of the Mohawk river, in the state of New York, the stomach o'" 

 which was entirely filled with large black spiders. He was of a much 

 purer white, above, than any I have since met with ; though evidently 

 of the same species with the present ; and I think it probable, that the 

 males become lighter colored as they advance in age, till the minute 

 transverse lines of brown on the lower parts almost disappear. 



In his manners he has more resemblance to the pies than to birds of 

 prey, particularly in the habit of carrying oflf his surplus food, as if to 

 hoard it for future exigences ; with this diflferenee, that Crows, Jays, 

 Magpies, &c., conceal theirs at random, in holes and crevices, where 

 perhaps it is forgotten or never again found ; while the Butcher-bird 

 sticks his on thorns and bushes, where it shrivels in the sun, and soon 

 becomes equally useless to the hoarder. Both retain the same habits 

 in a state of confinement, whatever the food may be that is presented 

 to them. 



