( 156) 



color. Female with the head and hind neck tinged with brown, 

 and the lower parts more distinctly banded. Length ten inches, 

 wing four and three quarters. 



During the winter months the Great American Shrike is not un- 

 common in the middle districts. Early in the spring, the majori- 

 ty retire northward, where they pass the season of re-production. 

 Dr. Richardson informs us that it is most frequent on the banks of 

 the Saskatchewan. The nest, which is formed of dry grass and 

 lichens, and lined with feathers, is built in the fork of a tree ; the 

 eggs, five or six in number, are of a pale bluish-gray, spotted at the 

 large end irregularly with dark yellowish-brown. It is a ver)' shy 

 and suspicious bird, and when not pursuing its prey, is usually 

 perched on the summit of a tall tree. From its lofty situation, it 

 can detect the gunner before he has arrived within gunshot. As if 

 aware of his evil intentions, it utters a loud scream, and flies to a 

 neighboring tree. After repeating this manoeuvre several times, it 

 becomes less timid, and allows the gunner to approach too near to 

 avoid his fatal aim. It feeds on insects, grasshoppers being its fa- 

 vorite food : but when hard pressed, will attack small birds, both of 

 which it is said to impale on thorns — and from this act of cruelty 

 it has received the appellation of " Butcher Bird." 



