ZOOLOGICAL DEPARTMENT. 

 FAMILY LANIIDJE. SHRIKES. 



Feed on insects, small birds, mice, etc., on the whole probably our friends. 



GENUS LANIUS LINN. 



107 



Batcher Bird, reduced. 



Lanius borealis Vieill. * NORTHERN SHRIKE; BUTCHER BIRD. 

 Rather common; throughout the State; "rare at Ann Arbor" (Dr. J. B. Steere); 

 winter; November to March or April; "occasionally in winter in Wayne County" 

 (B. W. Swales); seen at Iron Mountain by E. E. Brewster; " Keweenaw Point " (Knee- 

 land); "this shrike is not known to breed in United States" (Dr. A. K. Fisher); 

 Prof. J. A. Allen thinks it may breed in Upper Peninsula; impales mice, insects, and 

 small birds, frogs, etc., on thorns, probably for future use; "kills English Sparrows, and 

 impales insects on barbs of wire in fences " (Dr. W. C. Brownell); Prof. Chas. A. Davis tells 

 me that an observant friend suggests that this habit has arisen because the bird has no 

 talons, so it hangs bird, mouse, or insect up to aid in tearing it to pieces; " all 

 winter at Manchester, chasing and killing English Sparrows" (L. W. Watkins); these 

 birds are reported to attract other birds by mimicry and then destroy them; Dr. G. W. 

 Topping, Dr. W. C. Brownell, and Mr. J. B. Purdy speak of the nesting of this bird. 

 They must refer to the White-rumped Shrike. 



263-622 a'-( 188 part). Lanius hulovicianus excubitorides (Swains.). * WHITE- 

 RUMPED SHRIKE. 



Common from April to October; " the common variety in Monroe County " (Jerome 

 Trombley); breeds; nests in May in orchards; "nests rarely at Ann Arbor" (Dr. J. B. 

 Steere); eggs four to six, dirty white specked with brown. These birds do destroy 

 small birds, but as they destroy so many insects, especially locusts, they are to be con- 

 sidered as beneficial to the farmer. This species is often mistaken for the Loggerhead 

 Shrike, Lanius ludovicianus, which species does not occur in Michigan. 



FAMILY VIREONIDyE. VIREOS OR GREENLETS. 

 Beautiful singers; exclusively insectivorous; very beneficial. 



GENUS V1REO VIEILL. 



Red-eyed Vireo, natural size. 



