AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. i47 



LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE. 



Perched upon the topmost twig of an osage-orange tree, his gray and 

 rounded form silhouetted against the leaden March sky, we see the 

 first Loggerhead of the season. He is one of the earlier spring arrivals, 

 being preceded only by the Bluebird, Grackle, Robin and Song Sparrow. 



Totally ignoring the bleak north winds, and the gloomy threatening 

 clouds, he sounds his call notes right merrily. This is his early spring 

 song and how different it is from his harsh and discordant notes of the 

 previous autumn. His bell-like calls are now far from unpleasant 

 to our ears and we rejoice at the vocal improvement he has made. 

 Since he left us upon the beginning of winter, we have formed an 

 acquaintance with his cousin, the Great Northern Shrike, who has trav- 

 elled far from the land of the "Aurora borealis" to spend the more severe 

 part of the winter with us. 



Cousin "borealis" is an accomplished songster — a veritable mocking 

 bird of the northland, and although we conceded him the palm upon the 

 first hearing, we are none the less proud of our own Loggerhead for 

 the two clear sweet notes he is capable of producing. The Logger- 

 head arrives about the middle of March, the males preceding the fe- 

 males a few days only. 



So closely does Mrs. Loggerhead follow that I have wondered why 

 they do not journey together. When finally at home , which is generally 

 in the vicinity of the previous season's domicile, no time is lost in be- 

 ginning the new nest. Great energy is at first displayed, but later con- 

 siderable dallying is noticed and often two or three weeks are required 

 to finish their new home. It is a worthy structure, however, in its 

 finished state, and, like the scriptural house that was foundedup on a 

 rock, is able to withstand the March winds that come and the April 

 floods that are sure to descend upon it. The foundations are of sticks 

 and thorny twigs laced and interlaced with rootlets, grasses and strings. 

 The deep and beautifully rounded inner nest is thickly and softly lined 

 with the fur of small animals or feathers. The waving feathers give it 

 the appearance of warmth and comfort and it certainly proves an 

 attractive and well loved place, for its owners are seldom found at any 

 great distance from it. 



A ride along our country roads during the first week in April will 

 disclose many shrike nests in the process of construction. They are 

 easily observed at this season, for it is a full month before the leafing 

 of the hedges, and this renders them very conspicuous. This fact is in 

 marked contrast with the nesting habits of birds in general, the great 

 majority of which depends upon dense foliage or protective coloration 

 to hide their treasures from curious eyes. 



