LANIID.K — THE SlIllIKES. 421 



coloration of the tail, these wuii; coiisidorecl as losulting from an imperfect 

 description. Messrs. .Sharpe and Dres.ser, however, as quoted above, show 

 that Swainson's type really belongs to L Inhtura, an Old World species. 

 We therefore find it expedient to give a new name to the variety, having no 

 reason to discredit tiie alleged locality .1" the specimen. 



Collurio ludovicianus, var. excubitoroides, Baikd. 



WESTEBN LOOOEBHEAS ; WHITE-HUMPED SHBIKE. 



Lanius exciibitoioiilcs, Swainson, V. It. .\. II, ]»ai, lir, (.Sa.skatt:Iii'waii). - <;amiii;i,, Pr. 

 A. N. Se. 1847, :J(iO (Cahi.). —Cassis, IV. A. X. Sc. IS.''.-, 2ia. - - S.i.ati;!!, 1'. Z. S. 

 1864, 173 (City of Mcxko). Vulhirin e.,xiiliih<,;>iilfs, I!aii!I>, liinls N. Am. IS.'kS, '.vr,. 

 Culiui-w exciib. lUlKl), Kev. Am. li. 1804, 44.'). — Cdoi-i;!;, Oni. Cal. 1,- 1870, 1:18. 

 ? jMiiiun mcximiiHs, Bkkii.M, Call. .lour. II, 1854, 145. — Sci.ATi.li, Catal. l.sUl, 4ii 

 (Mi'.\u'.o). Lditiii.i liKhviehnuK, JIax. Cab. Jour. 1858, I'Jl (Upjicr iiksoiiri). — 

 DliEssEli & SiiAUi'K, P. Z. S. 1870, 595. 



Had. Western Province of Xortli Anioriea, as far north as Orc-ron ; Jliddlo Xoilli 

 America, to the Saskatchewan, anil cast to Wisconsin, Michii;an, and Ilhnois; .south to 

 Orizaba and Ouxaca, and City of Mexico ; Capi; St. Lucas. 



The precise boundaries between this species and C. Indoviciamis are diffi- 

 cult of definition, as the transition is almost insensilile. 



Tlie young bird is pale fulvous-ash above, everywhere with transverse 

 crescentic bars of dusky. Two l)ands of mottled pale iulvous across wings, 

 on tips of middle and greater coverts. Tail tip])ed with ochraceous, tiie 

 white featliers tinged with the same. P.reast and sides witli obsolete liars of 

 dusky. Black band on side of head rather olisolete. 



In its extreme stage of coloration it dilfers from Iiiihvicinnm in paler and 

 purer color ; the asli of liack ligiiter ; the under jjarts brilliant wliite, not 

 decidedly plumbeous on tlie sides as in tiie other, and without so great a 

 tendency to the usual obsolete waved lines (imticed distinctly only in winter 

 or immature bird.s) ; the axillars Ijluisli-white, not ])lumbeous. Tiie white 

 of wings and tail is more extended ; the lioary of forehead and wliitish of 

 scapulars more distinct. Tlie bristles at base of bill somewhat involving the 

 feathers are black, forming a narrow frontal line, not seen in the other. The 

 nio.st .striking difference is in the rump and u])per tail-coverts, which are 

 always apprecialily and abruptly lighter than the back, sometimes white or 

 only faintly glo,ssed with plumbeous ; while in typical specimens of Imlo- 

 vicianiis these feathers arc scarcely lighter at all, and generally more or less 

 varied with bliickish spots at the end. The legs and tiiil are apparently longer, 

 the latter le.ss graduateil. These dilferences are, however, most a))preciable in 

 specimens from the Middle and Western Provinces. Those from the AVesteni 

 States, east of tlie Missouri IJiver, as far nortli as Wisconsin, are more iiitcr- 

 mediate between the two, although still nearest to the Kocky Mountain bird 



