730 The Sparrow-like Birds 



mice, and small birds, and, although various theories have been proposed to 

 account for the origin of this curious habit, some asserting that it is done for 

 the purpose of alluring further victims within reach, others that it is simply a 

 well-stocked larder, it seems probable that it has resulted from their attempt 

 to find a support for their food while devouring it, their rather weak feet pre- 

 cluding their holding it very securely. In common with other rapacious animals 

 they sometimes kill more than they can possibly use, and kill for the mere wanton 

 love of killing. 



The Shrikes construct very bulky nests of sticks, dried grasses, strips of bark, 

 wool, feathers, etc., and usually place them low in small, often thorny trees and 

 hedges; the eggs usually number from four to seven and are dull whitish, 

 spotted with brown. 



American Shrikes. Of the two species inhabiting North America the larger 

 is the Great Northern Shrike, or Butcher-bird (Lanius borealis)," which is found 

 in all portions of the Fur Countries up to the limits of arboreal vegetation, if 

 not still farther. Here some individuals spend the whole year, but the greater 

 number migrate southward in fall and become dispersed over the middle por- 

 tions of the United States. It is a little more than ten inches in length, gray 

 above and white, generally finely barred below, the wings and tail black with 

 the base of the primaries white, the tips of the secondaries white or grayish, and 

 the outer, sometimes all the tail-feathers tipped with white, while the forehead 

 is whitish, the lores grayish black, and the ear-coverts black. Although usually 

 to be found in fall and winter along hedgerows and in bushy fields, when food 

 becomes scarce it frequently visits cities, where, if not molested, it kills large 

 numbers of English Sparrows, and for this purpose deserves abundant protection. 



The other American species is the Loggerhead Shrike (L. ludovicianus), 

 which in some half a dozen geographical races is spread over a large portion of 

 the United States and Mexico ; it is known by its smaller size -* usually not ex- 

 ceeding a length of nine inches and by its wholly black lores, while the lower 

 rump and upper tail-coverts are usually pale gray or sometimes nearly white. 

 The typical form is confined to the South Atlantic and Gulf States, where it is 

 resident, while in southeastern Canada and the eastern United States occurs the 

 Migrant Shrike (L. I. migrant), which has a smaller bill and a tail shorter instead 

 of longer than the wing; in the winter it abandons the more northern portions 

 of its range and spreads over the Middle States and the lower Mississippi Valley. 

 In northern North America from the eastern border of the Plains this is replaced 

 by the White-rumped Shrike (L. L excubitorides), a paler form in which the 

 white, especially of the wings, is more extensive; other forms occur on the 

 upper Pacific coast, islands off the California coast, and in the table-land of 

 Mexico. They all have practically the same habits as already pointed out for 

 Shrikes in general. 



Great Gray Shrike. Of the numerous Old World forms, mention may be 

 made of the Great Gray Shrike (L. excubitor} of northern Europe and northern 

 Asia, which is quite to be compared with our Northern Shrike, but has the under 

 parts pure white and more white on the wing. It frequents in summer the bor- 



