290 THE MIGRANT SHRIKE. 



fifteen feet high in orchard trees, thorn hedges, etc. Eggs, 3-6, sometimes 7, 

 dull grayish, or greenish white, thickly speckled and spotted with olive- or red- 

 dish-brown. Av. size, .97 x .73 (24.6 x 18.5). 



General Range. Eastern United States, west to the Plains; north to the 

 Great Lakes, northern New England, etc. Breeds throughout its range. 



Range in Ohio. Of casual occurrence throughout the state. This form 

 seems to have entered the state by encroachment from the south, and is perhaps 

 more distinct southerly. 



For convenience this form and the next (whatever their relationships) are 

 treated together under the common name Migrant Shrike. 



B. WHITE-RUM FED SHRIKE. 



A. O. U. No. 622a. Lanius ludovicianus excubitorides (Swains.). 



Synonyms. BUTCHER-BIRD ; MOUSE-BIRD. 



Description. Adult : Similar to preceding species but paler ; the upper 

 tail-coverts more or less distinctly whitish, the white of scapulars more exten- 

 sive. Dimensions a little larger, save of bill, which is about the same. Length 

 8.00-10.00 (203.2-254.). A typical Columbus male measures: wing 3.96 (100.6) ; 

 tail 3.98 (101.1); bill .61 (15.5). Average of six Columbus specimens of the 

 combined forms: wing 3.93 (99.8); tail 3.81 (96.8); bill .62 (15.8). 



Recognition Marks. Same size as preceding; paler; "rump" whitish. 



Nesting. Same as preceding species. 



General Range. "Western North America, from the Plains to the Pacific, 

 except Coast of California ; and from Manitoba and the Plains of the Saskatche- 

 wan south over the tablelands of Mexico." Its range extends eastward around 

 the Great Lakes, and southerly, where it intergrades with the preceding species. 



Range in Ohio. Of general distribution, thinning out southerly. There is 

 no fixed line geographically or zoologically between this and the preceding form. 

 Either may be found anywhere in the state, and may bear any family relation 

 to the other apparent subspecies. 



The "Shrike question" is still unsettled. The relation of the two subspecies 

 in this state puzzles the professional as well as the amateur. Whether indeed 

 Ohio represents intermediate ground where we should expect every degree of 

 intergradation (since by definition, subspecies are forms known to intergrade), 

 or whether it is comparatively new territory entered by two diverse elements, 

 which, because of their previous affiliation, tend to coalesce ; or whether, finally, 

 the Ohio bird should be subspecifically distinguished from the L. ludovicianus 

 of the South, and recognition made of a constant infusion from the West, all 

 these are points not yet decided, and perhaps indeterminable. An attempt has 

 been made to separate the Shrike of the middle North under the name L. I mi- 

 grans. Altho the characters shown, especially that of larger size, are fairly con- 

 stant, they have been deemed too trifling for recognition, and the A. O. IL com- 

 mittee reported unfavorably upon the proposed subspecies. Perhaps the easiest 



