Nests in Trees, Bashes, or Vines 



Breeding flange From Virginia, the southern Alleghanies, Ken- 

 tucky, Kansas, Arizona, etc., northward. (A. O. U. check- 

 list.) 



The nest is composed of grass, bark, fine roots, catkins, 

 moss, rags, and twine, a fine, well-formed structure, which some- 

 times has mud added to its long list of building materials. It is 

 placed from five to twenty-five feet from the ground, usually in 

 fruit trees or cedars. The eggs are pale gray or with a slight 

 tinge of green, and thinly spotted with purplish black and light 

 dull purplish ; the number varies from 3 to 5. Size .85 x .60. 

 See Fig. 12, Plate B. 



There is no bird so well groomed as the Waxwing ; his 

 toilet is made with the most scrupulous care ; never is there a 

 feather out of place, nor a spot of dirt on his velvety coat. Well- 

 drilled companies of these birds may be seen flying rapidly from 

 tree to tree in search of berries and seeds at all times, except 

 during the immediate breeding season. When they are seen to 

 be feeding on the alders, you may know it will not be long be- 

 fore the nest will be built. In the vicinity of New York, eggs 

 may be found about the first week in June. 



622. Loggerhead Shrike; Butcher Bird: Lanius 

 ludovicianus Linn. 



Adult Upper parts gray ; wings black, with white markings ; 

 tail black, with white tips ; outside feathers white ; a broad 

 black line from base of bill to back of cheek ; under parts 

 white or pearly gray. Length 9.00. 



Breeding Range East of the Alleghanies, from northern Virginia 

 southward, and occasionally north to southern New Jersey. 

 West of the Alleghanies, "northward to the Great Lakes, 

 and eastward through central New York to Vermont and 

 Maine." 



Note The shrike found breeding in northern New England some- 

 times resembles more or less the white-rumped shrike (L. 

 excubitorides), and is occasionally classified as such, but I 

 believe it has been decided not to change the name of ludo- 

 vicianus, as the differences are too slight and inconsistent. 



The nest is composed of twigs, leaves, weeds, bark, grass, 

 fine roots, and lined with grass, sometimes wool or feathers ; it 

 is rather bulky and loosely made, and is placed in a bush or tree, 



i53 



