50 Birds of Canada. 



FAMILY LANIID^E. 

 Sub-Family LANIIN^E. The Shrikes. 



GREAT NORTHERN SHRIKE. 



Collyrio borealis. The Great Northern Shrike, or 

 Butcher Bird. 



The Butcher Bird is nine inches long ; the 

 color, above, light bluish-ash ; the under parts, 

 white ; the wings and tail, black. It feeds prin- 

 cipally upon insects, sparrows, and other small 

 birds. It can imitate the calls of other birds, 

 especially those indicating distress ; and has the 

 cruel habit of impaling its prey on sharp twigs 

 and thorns, and devouring it at leisure. Hence, 

 it has derived the name, Butcher Bird. The 

 nest is usually built in a thorn tree or low 

 shrub ; eggs, four or five in number ; of a 

 dirty lead-colored white, with spots of brown 

 on the large end. 



