354 THE WHITE-RUM PED SH%JKi:. 



No. i.?(i. 



WHll K RlMI'l'l) SHRIKK. 



A. ( ). I'. X'l. 622 a. Lanius luJu\ icianus cxL'ubitorides (Swains.). 



Description. — .Unit: l>ark hliiisli ^ray almvi.', cliaiigiii(,' abruptly to wliitc on 

 u|)pcr tail-covcrts ; scapulars cliictly wliilc: winjjs black, a small white sp<it at liase 

 of primaries ; tlie inner (|uills narrowly tii)pc(l with white ; tail black, the outer 

 pair of feathers chiefly white, and the succeediii}; broadly tipped with white in 

 descending; ratio until color disappears in two central pairs: below white sliphlly 

 soiled on breast, but everywhere strongly contrastinjj with upperjiarts: narrow 

 frontal line includin>; nasal tufts, lores, and ear-coverts, black, — continuous, and 

 passiufj mostly below eye ; bill and feet l)Iack. Imiiuilurc: Colors of adult less 

 strongly contrasted: lower parts washed with brownish: loral bar obscure; more 

 or less vermicnlated with dusky all over (in younger birds), or ui)on the iinder- 

 parts alone; ends of wing-(|uills, coverts, and tail-feathers often with ochraccous 

 or rusty markings. Length of adult male: 8.50-10.00 (215.9-234); wing 3.</) 

 ( loo.fi) : tail 3.<) (<)<i) : bill .rio ( 15.3) : tarsus i.i (28). 



Recognition Marks. — Chewink to Robin size: dark gray alwvc; whitish be- 

 low; longitudin.il black |)atcli of head; wings black and white: breast of adult un- 

 marked, as disting\iislie<l from both /,. horralis and /,. /. t/aiithi'li. 



Nesting. — Xcst: a bulky but well-built structure of sticks, thorn-twigs, sage- 

 bark, dried leaves, etc., heavily lined with wool, hair, and feathers; placed at 

 moderate heights in sage-brush or sapling. Ri/i/s: 5-7, dull grayish or greenish 

 white, thicklv sjieckled and spotte<l with ])ale olive or reddish brown. .\v. size, 

 .97 .\ .73 ( 24/) N 18.5). Season: .\]>ril. June; two broo<ls. 



General Range.— Western Xortli America from the dreat Plains westward, 

 except Pacilic (.'oast district and from Manitoba and the plains of Saskatchewan 

 south over the tablelands of .Mexico; south in winter over the whole of ^fcxico 

 intergratling with /.. /. iniiiraiis in region of the Cireat Lakes. 



Range in Washington. — Common summer resident east of the Cascades, 

 chiefl\ in •-age-brush country. 



Authorities.— Dawson. .\uk. Xl\ . 18.17. i7<). (Ti. D'. D'. Ss'. Ss'. 



Specimens. — (V. of W.) P. C. 



THF. brushy draws of the low lava ranges and the open sage .stretches of 

 the Kast-sitle constitute the favorite preserve of this lesser bird of prey. He 

 arrives from the South early in March when his patchy pliiinage harmonizes 

 more or less witli the snow-checkered landscape, but lie is nowise concerned 

 with problems of ])rotective coloration. Seeking out some prominent perch, 

 iisuallv at this time of year a dea<l greasewood or a fence-|nist, he divides his 

 time between spying upon the early-creeping field mouse and entertaining his 

 ladv love with outlandish music. Those who have not heard the White-rumped 

 Shrike siiiti. have missed a treat. lie begins with a series of rasping sounds, 

 which are probablv intended to jiroduce the same receptive condition in his 



