Plate IX. 



GOLLURIO LUDOVICIANUS-Loggerhead Shrike. 



The Loggerhead Shrike is quite a common resident in Ohio, particularly in the central and southern 

 portions of the state, and it is singular that it has so few acquaintances, as its habits are perhaps more 

 interesting than those of any of our other birds. Twenty years ago it was scarce, if indeed a resident 

 of the state at all ; now it is to be found both winter and summer, though more abundant in the latter 

 season. The birds which remain during the winter begin the construction of their nests exceedingly 

 early — the 15th of April will find many of them setting upon a full complement of eggs — but the usual 

 time for nesting i^ in June; a second brood is raised some weeks later. 



LOCALITY: 



The early nests are found in hedges, and scrubby little trees in cultivated fields ; later, when the 

 leaves are fully set, old orchard-trees standing in Avheat£elds, cornfields, or meadows, and thorn-trees 

 growing along canals, small streams, or roads, arc their favorite sites. The trees selected are generally 

 at a distance from any dwelling — occasionally nests are built within twenty or thirty yards of a house, 

 or even closer — woods are rarely if ever frequented. 



POSITION : 



The nest, when placed in a hedge, is supported by a number of small branches, and is within three 

 or four feet of the ground; when built in an apple-tree or pear-tree, it is usually in a perpendicular 

 fork near the top; when in a thorn-tree, it is either in the main fork, or on one of the lower limbs in 

 a thicket of thorns and little branches, and on this account is very difficult to procure Avithout tearing 

 to pieces. 



MATERIALS: 



The materials of 'construction are quite constant in variety, though the relative proportions are vari- 

 able. The foundations of twelve nests before me contain coarse weed-stems, blue-grass, timothv-heads, Aveed- 

 fibres in long and short strips, chicken-feathers, thorns, and pieces of paper. The superstructures contain 

 fine stems and fibres of weeds, rootlets, grasses, feathers, paper, wool, and silk from the milk-weed {Asdepias 

 cornutl). The linings contain flaxen fibres, chicken-feathers, wool, silk of A. cornuti, and horse-hairs. An 

 average nest is composed as follows: foundation, coarse weed-stems, a few long fibres, and a little blue- 

 grass; the superstructure, finer weed-stalks, fibres, rootlets, grasses, and feathers, abounding in the order 

 mentioned; the lining, long fibres, feathers, and a few horse-hairs. In all nests of this species the lining- 

 IS quite thick, and the inside of the rim is compact and well formed, and often has long feathers from 

 the back or breast of the chicken so adroitly woven into it as to completely conceal the eggs from view. 

 The outside dimensions are variable, the early structures which are placed in hedges and in shrubs, are 

 not so bulky and roughly made as the later ones built in more elevated positions in larger trees. The 



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