346 BIRDS OF ONTARIO. 



Nest, in a tree or bush not often more than fifteen feet from the ground, the 

 middle of a thorn being often selected. 



The eggs cannot with certainty be distinguished from those of the White- 

 rumped Shrike. 



This and the next species resemble each other so closely that a 

 doubt is raised in the minds of many whether or not they should 

 ever have been separated. Dr. Coues, in his "New Key," says on 

 this subject : " Extreme examples of excubitorides look very different 

 from ludovicianus proper, but the two are observed to melt into 

 each other when many specimens are compared, so that no specific 

 characters can be assigned." All those I h#ve found near Hamilton 

 agree best with the description given of excubitorides, but there are 

 other observers who think we have both kinds, and some believe we 

 have ludovicianus only. As a guide to a proper understanding -of 

 the matter, I have given the technical descriptions of both, but hold 

 my own opinion that of the two, only excubitorides has been found in 

 Ontario. 



LANIUS LUDOVICIANUS EXCUBITORIDES (SWAINS.). 

 255. White-rumped Shrike. (622) 



With the size and essential characters of head stripe of var. ludovicianus, 

 and the under parts, as in that species, not or not obvioush r waved, but with 

 the clear light ashy upper parts and hoary whitish superciliary line, scapulars 

 and rump of bcrealis. 



HAB. Western United States, east to the Middle and New England, 

 breeding as far north as Northern New York and Northern New England and 

 Ontario. Rare or local east of the Alleghanies. 



Nest, in a tree or bush, seldom more than ten feet from the ground, 

 exteriorly built of prickly twigs, interwoven with strips of bark, rags, twine 

 and rootlets, lined with fine grass and pieces of cotton waste picked up on the 

 railroad track. 



Eggs, four to six, light grayish color, spotted with yellowish-brown. 



Besides the great northern Butcher Bird (Lanius borealis}, there 

 are two Shrikes, smaller in size, described as North American. One 

 is the Loggerhead Shrike of the south-east, and the other the White- 

 rumped Shrike, which was .originally described as a western species, 

 but has of late years been extending its territory to the eastward, 

 north of the Loggerhead's range. Taking examples from the south- 

 east to compare with those from the north-west, the difference is 

 seen at once, but as they approach each other in habitat, they also 



