CHAPTER X. 



February 26 March 4. 



THE LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE. 



Order Passeres Suborder Oscines 



Family Laniidae Genus Lanius 



Species Lanius ludovicianus 



Length 8.50 to 9.50; wing, 3.75 to 4.10; tail, 3.65 to 4.25. 

 Migration North, March ; south, November. 



The family Laniidse is composed of the shrikes of which 

 there are about two hundred species. Most of these are con- 

 fined to the Old World. In North America we have only two 

 species, namely, the northern shrike, lanius borealis, and the 

 loggerhead shrike, lanius ludovicianus. They are medium- 

 sized rapacious birds with wandering habits. They have 

 hooked or hawk-like bills and remarkable eyesight. Their 

 call notes are harsh and unmusical. The northern, as its 

 name indicates, is a bird of the far north, and the loggerhead 

 is a bird of the south. When the first comes to the Middle 

 West about the first of November, the second will have gone 

 to the south, and in March when the first is leaving for the 

 far north, the other will be returning from the south. As has 

 been well said, "In case of species so nearly identical as the 

 northern and loggerhead shrike, it would be interesting to 

 know wherein consists that subtle temperamental distinction 

 that drives them to such diverse latitudes north and south." 



57 



