35'' 



THE WIlII'E-RrMI'KI) SlllLKI-. 



l)inl niovis ciilRi In siiiccssivf plimj^cs and iiuisy rcasctriisioiis. or else pilches 

 (lownwaril fiuiu liis perch ami wings lapitliy over the surface of tlic vegetation. 

 Tlie Sage Shrikes are jjrohhc and attentive l)reerlers. Tlie first brood is 

 hrouglit olT about the isl of May. but fresli eggs may sometimes be found 

 as earlv as tlie last week in March in the southern part of the State. A 

 second brood may be ixpeclcfi from June 1st to 15th. 



The nest is a bulky 

 but usually well-built 

 affair, ])lace<l habitually 

 in a sage bush, or a 

 greasewood clump, with 

 wild clematis for third 

 choice. The structure is 

 designed for warmth 

 and comfort, so that, 

 whenever ]M)ssibIe. to 

 the thickened walls of 

 plant fibers, cowhair, or 

 sheep's wool, is added an 

 inner lining of feathers. 

 and these not infre- 

 quently curl over the 

 edge so as comi)letely to 

 conceal the nest contents. 

 One nest examined in 

 Walla Walla County 

 contained the following 

 materials: Willow twigs, 

 broom-sage twigs, sage 

 bark, weed stems, dried 

 yarrow leaves. dried 

 sage leaves, hemp, woc)l, 

 rabbit fur. horse-hair, 

 cow-hair, chicken feath- 

 ers, string, rags, and 

 sand, besides a thick mat 

 of finely cmminuted scales, soft and shiny, the accumulated horny waste 

 from the growing wing-(|uills of the crowded young — altogether a sad mess. 

 The jiarent birds are singularly indifferent as a rule to the welfare of a 

 nest containing eggs alone. The female sits dose, but once flushed, stands 

 clinking in the distance, or else absents herself entirely. When the young are 

 hatched, however, the old birds are capable of a spirited and deafening defense. 



TttkfH 1 

 NEST 



I Douglas CoMHiy. Photo by the Auttwr. 



AND KC.r.S OF WniTK KUMI'KI) SHRIKE. 



