LANIUS BOREALIS : BUTCHER-BIRD. 2OJ 



FAMILY LANIID^E : SHRIKES. 



GREAT NORTHERN SHRIKE, OR BUTCHER- 

 BIRD. 



LANIUS BOREALIS V. 



Chars. Adults : Clear bluish-ash, bleaching on the scapulars and 

 upper tail-coverts, the under parts pure white, always more or less 

 vermiculated with fine wavy cross-lines of dusky. A black bar 

 along side of head, not meeting its fellow across forehead, enclos- 

 ing the white under eyelid, and bordered above by hoary white, 

 which reaches across the forehead. Wings black, many or most 

 of the quills tipped with white, and a large white spot at base 

 of primaries. Tail black, the outer feather mostly white, the 

 next three or four tipped with white in decreasing extent. Bill 

 and feet plumbeous-black. Young : More sordid in coloration, the 

 ashy parts of the adult quite brownish, the under parts brownish- 

 white, with heavier wavy dark marks ; less white on wings and 

 tail than in the adults ; bill pale at base below. Length about 

 10.00 ; extent, 14.50; wing, 5.50; tail rather more; bill, 0.75; 

 tarsus, i.oo or less ; middle toe and claw, 0.75. 



The "bold brigand" is resident in the Canadian 

 Fauna ; a migrant and winter visitant in other parts 

 of New England, where it occurs not rarely, but irreg- 

 ularly, being common at some seasons and much less 

 so at other times. Its movements appear to be regu- 

 lated more by the varying state of the food-supply than 

 by times of year. It is known to breed in Maine, but 

 even in that State is more numerous in winter and 

 during the migrations than in summer. Like the 

 common Snow-bird, so characteristic of the Canadian 

 Fauna in the breeding season, it indicates the exten- 



