with chocolate brown ; the deep shell markings have a purplish hue. The marks may occur irregularly 

 over the surface, or be confined to the crown, forming a wreath ; occasionally the coloring matter is 

 deposited in scrawls and lines, or being regular in outline, is so deep beneath the surface that it 

 appears a faint lilac. 



The average size of twenty specimens is .96x.71; the largest, 1.02 x. 75; the smallest, .85 x .63. 

 They are deposited every day, and incubated in fourteen days. 



DIFFERENTIAL POINTS: 



The nest of this species might possibly be mistaken for that of the Loggerhead Shrike {Collurh 

 ludovicianus)] the locality, position, and even the materials of construction, are often very similar. As a 

 rule, it may be stated that the former' is smaller, firmer, and harsher, and contains a plaster Avhich is 

 entirely wanting in the latter. The eggs are not to be confounded with any others common to the 

 state. 



REMARKS : 



The nest represented in the drawing Avas taken in June, 1877, from a sycamore growing on the 

 bank of the canal in the southern part of Pickaway county; it was distant from the nearest farm-house 

 about three-quarters of a mile. 



The foundation is composed of dried grasses, weed stems and fibres, straws, and sticks ; the super- 

 structure is of similar, but finer and better selected material, Avell plastered within, and ornamented 

 Avithout v/ith pods from the wild cucumber vine. The lining is of round grass, horse hairs, feathers, and 

 wool. The inside diameter measures three and one-eighth; the outside diameter four and three-quarters; 

 and the inside depth, one and three-quarters, inches. The eggs represent the usual sizes, and are colored 

 from freshly bloAvn specimens. 



ri2 



