BIRDS OF INDIANA. 1007 



grayish. Immature. Tinged with brownish and buffy, marked with 

 fine, wavy, dark crossbars; wings marked with buffy; black on sides of 

 head, dusky. 



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



RANGE. Eastern United States west to the Plains; from the Gulf 

 of Mexico north on the Atlantic Coast to New Jersey and in the in- 

 terior to the Great Lakes, Ontario and, east, along the south side of 

 the St. Lawrence River to Maine. Winters from Missouri, southern 

 Illinois and southern Indiana south. 



Nest, low in tree or in bush, usually a thorn; of twigs, bark, grass 

 and string. Eggs, 4-7; dull white, thickly spotted with light-brown 

 and lavender; .97 by .73. 



Summer resident, most numerous in central and northern Indiana, 

 although in some localities elsewhere it is common. Resident some 

 winters, at least, in the lower Wabash Valley. A specimen was taken 

 at Mt. Canne!, 111., January 5, 1886 (Ridgway, Orn. of 111., I., p. 195). 



In the northern portion of the State the specimens seem upon first 

 notice to be the White-rumped Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus excubi- 

 toroides (Swains.), but comparison of a series of birds shows that while 

 many are light in color they fall between the two forms most nearly 

 approaching the present species. The specimens from southern In- 

 diana and into the middle of the State are darker and show at once 

 to be this species. Few Shrikes breed south of the central part of the 

 State. They frequent the more open, level land, making their head- 

 quarters along hedges, about thorn trees, in which they build nests 

 and especially preferring a telegraph line near such places. There it 

 may be seen, a conspicuous bird in black, blue-gray and white, sitting 

 high up, or far out, on some prominent limb or on a pole or wire, 

 waiting for its food to pass by. Insects, and the smaller birds, mam- 

 mals and reptiles fall prey to it, and like the Northern Shrike it im- 

 pales them upon thorns. 



They usually appear as migrants in March. Early and late first 

 appearances extending over a number of years are as follows: Tai>- 

 gier, March 7, 1896, March 21, 1895; SpearsriUe, March 13, 1894, 

 March 28, 1895; Brookville, March 17, 1887, April 16, 1893; Greent- 

 tmrg, March 21, 1896, March 24, 1895; Irvington, March 14, 1889; 

 Petersburg, Mich., March 11, 1893, April 25, 1897; Chicago, 111., 

 March 13, 1886, April 17, 189?. 



As the woods are cleared away and hedges are planted, or thorn 

 trees grow, these birds are appearing in new neighborhoods, and most 

 everywhere in the more level portion of the State an increase in num- 

 bers is noted. They sometimes breed in April. Mr. E. J. Chansler 

 a n^et cofitaimBg six eggs at Bickneil, in April, 1897. Mr. 



