THE NORTHERN SHRIKE. 353 
and sides narrowly tipped with dusky, producing a uniform, fine vermiculation 
which is always present; bill blackish, lightening at base of lower mandible; feet 
black. Young birds are barred or washed with grayish brown. ‘The plumage of 
adult is sometimes overcast above with a faint olivaceous tinge. Length 9.25- 
10.75 (235-273.1); wing 4.50 (114.3); tail 4.19 (106.4); bill .72 (18.3); tarsus 
1.07 (27.3). 
Recognition Marks.—Robin size; gray and black coloring; sharply hooked 
bill; breast vermiculated with dusky, as distinguished from next species. 
Nesting.—Does not breed in Washington. Nest: a well constructed bowl of 
sticks, thorn-twigs, grasses, and trash, heavily lined with plant-down and feathers; 
in bushes or low trees. Eggs: 3-7, dull white or greenish gray, thickly dotted and 
spotted with olive-green, brown, or lavender. Ay. size, 1.07 X .78 (27.2x 19.8). 
General Range.—Northern North America; south in winter to the middle 
and southern portions of the United States. Breeds north of the United States 
except sparingly in northern New England. 
Range in Washington.—Spring and fall migrant ae not common winter 
resident thruout the State, chiefly at lower levels. 
Authorities.—? Townsend, Journ. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. VIII. 1839, 152 
(Columbia River). Baird, Rep. Pac. R. R. Surv. IX. 1858, 325. C&S. D'. Ra. 
2B. E. 
Specimens.—(U. of W.) P?. Prov. B. E. 
FLITTING like a gray ghost in the wake of the cheerful hosts of Juncoes 
and Redpolls, comes this butcher of the North in search of his accustomed prey. 
If it is his first visit south he posts himself upon the tip of a tree and rasps out 
an inquiry of the man with the gun. Those that survive these indiscretions are 
thereafter faintly descried in the distance, either in the act of diving from some 
anxious summit, or else winging swiftly over the inequalities of the ground. 
All times are killing time for this bloodthirsty fellow, and even in winter 
he “jerks” the meat not necessary for present consumption—be it chilly- 
footed mouse or palpitating Sparrow—upon some convenient thorn or splin- 
ter. In spring the north-bound bird is somewhat more amiable, being better 
fed, and he pauses from time to time during the advance to sing a strange 
medley, which at a little remove sounds like a big electric buzz. This is 
meant for a love song, and is doubtless so accepted by the proper critics, but 
its rendition sometimes produces about the same effect upon a troop of 
Finches, which a cougar’s serenade does upon a cowering deer. 
Experts try to make out that this creature is beneficial, on the whole, 
because of the insects he devours, but I have seen too much good red blood 
on this butcher’s beak myself. My gun is loaded! 
Suckley writing in the Fifties remarks the scarcity of all Shrikes in 
Oregon or Washington “Territories,” and this is fortunately still true, espec- 
ially west of the Cascades. The probable explanation is that the mild climate 
of the Pacific slope of Alaska retards or prevents the southward movement 
of the more hardy species. 
