CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 569 
622a. White-rumped Shrike. 
Lanius ludovicianus excubitorides (SWAINS.) COUES. 1872 
This is the characteristic species of the whole region along the 
4gth parallel from Pembina to the Rocky Mountains. At Turtle 
Mountain during the last week in July I found a family of these 
- birds in an isolated clump of bushes. The young, four in number, 
had just left the nest, which was discovered in the crotch of a 
bush five or six feet from the ground. The nest proper rested 
upon a bulky mass of interlaced twigs; it was composed of-some 
white weed (Anaphalis margaritacea) that grow abundantly in the 
vicinity, matted together with strips of fibrous bark. (Cowes.) 
Common summer resident of half-wooded districts in Manitoba. 
Breeding freely at Carberry, Shell River and Qu’Appelle. 
(Tompson-Seton.) First seen at Indian Head, Assa., on May 16th, 
1892, they were never common, a few breed there, as they were 
seen up to the end of June; first secn at Medicine Hat, Assa., on 
May 14th, 1894, later they became common and doubtless bred 
in the river valley; apparently breeding near Pend d’Oreille on the 
Milk River, Alta., July roth, 1895; observed a pair on May 18th, 
1897, at Edmonton, Alta., building a nest ina clump of willows. 
I unfortunately shot the female ; nest nearly finished, composed 
of weeds. (Spreadborough.) This is a more southern bird than 
Lanius borealis and does not seem to advance further north than 
Lat. 54°. Its habits are precisely similar to the other, and its food, 
which was grasshoppers, the same. They are numerous on the 
plains.. Mr. Drummond found a_ nest in a willow bush, in the 
beginning of June, which was built of twigs of Artemisia and dried 
grass and lined with feathers. (Richardson.) 
MUSEUM SPECIMENS. 
Four; two taken at Indian Head, Assa., in May, 1892, and two 
at Edmonton, Alta., in May, 1897, by Mr. Spreadborough. 
622b. California Shrike. 
Lanius ludovicianus gambeli RipGw.— 1887. 
One taken in April, 1888, at Chilliwack, Fraser River valley, 
B.C., 1888. (Brooks.) This specimen is referred here on the 
authority of Mr. W. Brewster. 
