326 SHRIKES. 



W., 3-82 ; T., 3-87 ; B. from N., -48 ; depth of B. at N., -35 (average of nine 

 Florida specimens). 



Remarks. Specimens from the Mississippi Valley, western Pennsylvania, 

 New York, and northern New England average lighter in color and have, as 

 a rule, smaller bills than specimens from the south Atlantic States. They 

 are thus intermediate between ludomcianus and excubitoridet, but the differ- 

 ences between them are too slight and inconstant to warrant me in including 

 excubitorides on the basis of specimens which are quite as near ludomcianus 

 as they are to typical examples of the western form. 



Range. Eastern North America west to the edge of the plains ; breeds, 

 east of the Alleghanies, as far north as Virginia; west of the Alleghanies 

 breeds northward to the Great Lakes and eastward through central New 

 York to Vermont and Maine. 



Washington, rare W. V., Aug. 11 to Apl. 6. Sing Sing, A. V. Cam- 

 bridge, rare in fall and winter. 



Nest, of strips of bark, small twigs, and vegetable fibers, lined with 

 grasses, in thorny hedges or low trees, about seven feet up. Eggs, three to 

 five, dull white or creamy white, thickly marked with cinnamon-brown and 

 lavender, -98 x -78. 



Like some of the Hawks and Flycatchers, the Loggerhead does 

 not search for his prey, but waits for it to come within striking dis- 

 tance. It is of importance, therefore, that his perch should command 

 an uninterrupted view of his surroundings. For this reason one 

 rarely or never sees a Shrike in a tree, but always on its outermost or 

 highest branches. He will fly directly toward its center, but just as 

 he reaches it swing up and light on its top. He also selects telegraph 

 wires, peaks of houses, and especially the apex of a lightning rod or 

 weather vane. 



From his point of vantage he maintains a constant outlook for any 

 unsuspecting grasshopper, small snake, or lizard which may appeal- 

 below. The distance at which he can detect these gives evidence of 

 his power of sight. I have seen Shrikes fly fifty yards with the evi- 

 dent object of capturing a grasshopper which they undoubtedly saw 

 before starting. 



Like the Butcher-bird, the Loggerhead frequently impales its prey 

 on a convenient thorn or spike. Doubtless this habit aids him in dis- 

 secting his food, but I do not think that he does it for this reason alone. 

 The bird's vigilance, like that of the waiting Hawk, is probably at^ 

 tended by varying results. One hour may yield excellent returns, the 

 next may be fruitless. But under any circumstances he can not resist 

 taking advantage of an opportunity to secure food. Sometimes the 

 opportunities exceed the demands of his stomach, and then, after cap- 

 turing his unfortunate victim, he simply impales and leaves it. 



If perseverance deserved success, the Loggerhead would take high 

 rank as a songster. But his notes are harsh and unmusical. They 



