1006 REPORT OF STATE GEOLOGIST. 



Shrikes are commonly known as Butcher Birds. They live upon 

 animal food; small birds, small mammals and insects being their main 

 subsistence. Their life is one of continual warfare; a-preying upon 

 others. While their bill is that of a rapacious bird, their feet are weak, 



Northern Shrike. (Reduced.) 



and they cannot hold their prey. For this reason they usually resort 

 to thorn trees, where their victims are impaled upon thorns, some- 

 times making quite an array of small birds, beetles and other food, 

 reminding one of a butcher's rack filled with meat. They are very 

 bold when pursuing their prey. I once watched a Shrike chase a 

 Junco in and out among the trees, and about the buildings of my 

 back yard, coming very close to me several times, until finally its per- 

 sistence was rewarded by catching the frightened bird, which it car- 

 ried off to a neighboring tree. It paid no attention to me. They 

 have been known to kill pet birds in cages when they were exposed 

 in the open air and to dash themselves against a window in the at- 

 tempt to seize a bird that was in plain view through the glass. When 

 food becomes scarce in the country they have been known, to go to the 

 cities and live principally upon English Sparrows. They in turn are 

 sometimes preyed upon. Mr. E. J. Chansler informed me of one at 

 Bicknell, November 25, 1894, that barely escaped capture by a Spar- 

 row Hawk. 



The Northern Shrike has been reported breeding in Indiana. That 

 is a mistake. Its breeding ground is far to the north. The other 

 species must have been mistaken for it. 



*246. (622). Lanius ludovicianus LINN. 



Loggerhead Shrike. 

 Synonym, BUTCHER BIRD. 



Adult. Similar to L. borealis, but smaller; lores and ear-coverts, 

 deep black, the latter meeting across the forehead next the bill; upper 

 tail-coverts and rump, sometimes white; below, white; sides, sometimes 



