THE NORTHERN SHRIKE. 353 



and sides narrowly tipped with dusky, producing a uniform, iinc vcrmiculation 

 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 (1 14.3); tail 4.19 (106.4); '''H -72 (18.3); tarsus 

 1.07 (27.3). 



Recognition Marks. — Rdbin size; gray and black coloring; sharply hooked 

 bill : breast vermicnlatcd with dusky, as distinguished from next species. 



Nesting. — Docs 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. Av. size, 1.07 x .78 (27.2 x 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 s|)aringly in northern New England. 



Range in Washington. — Spring and fall migrant and not common winter 

 resident thrunut the State, chiefly at low'er levels. 



Authorities. — ?Townsend, Tourn. Ac. Nat. Sci. I'liila. \'III. 1839, 152 

 (Columbia River). Baird, Rep. "Pac. R. R. Surv. IX. 18^8, t,2^. ClS^S. D'. Ra. 

 D-\ B. E. 



Specimens.— ( U. of \V. ) 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 Nortii 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 thejnan 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 amial)le, 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 accei)ted by the proper critics, but 

 its rendition sometimes produces about the same efifect upon a troop of 

 Fitiches, 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 nrtich 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 ])rcvents the southward movement 

 of the more hardy species. 



