average of a number of nests is as follows: outside diameter, six and three-fourths inches; inside 

 diameter, three and three-eighths inches ; outside depth, four and one-fourth inches ; depth of cavity, two 

 and three-eighths inches. 



EGGS: 



The full complement of eggs is six, and this number is usually deposited in every set. The shell 

 is sometimes white, but generally it has a faint wash of dingy yellowish-brown, and is marked with 

 irregular spots and blotches of darker shades of the same color, to which a few obscure purplish-brown 

 spots may be added. The markings may be quite uniformly distributed, or most abundant about the 

 crown, where occasionally they form a complete wreath the smaller end being almost or wholly immacu- 

 late, or they may be thickest at the point. Eggs of the same set vary but little in size and markings. 

 In some sets the shell has a high polish, but commonly it is dull. All the eggs which I have taken 

 from early nests — eggs laid by birds that have remained in the state during the winter — have had glossy 

 shells, and have been longer and narrower than those collected later. Whether this is merely an acci- 

 dental occurrence, or can be accounted for by climate, I am unable to say. The average of sixty 

 specimens is .98 x .75 ; the largest, 1.04 x .82 ; the smallest, .90 x .70. They are deposited every day 

 or alternate days, and incubated in about fourteen days. 



DIFFERENTIAL POINTS : 



As stated on page 52, there is often a great similarity between the nest of the Loggerhead Shrike 

 and that of the Kingbird {Tyrannus carolinensis), but the former never contains the peculiar plaster 

 described on page 51. The resemblance which the nests and eggs of C. horealis (Butcherbird) bears to 

 this species, will be considered under C, horealis. Variety exciihitoroides builds a nest and lays eggs in 

 every particular like C\ ludovicianus. The size, color, and markings of the eggs under consideration will 

 distinguish them in nearly every other instance. 



REMAEKS : 



The nest illustrated was taken on the 5th of June, 1879, from a thorn-iree standing on the bank of 

 the Ohio canal; it is constructed like the average nest, and contained six eggs. The eggs illustrated 

 are from three different sets; they represent the extremes and average, both in size and color. The old 

 birds are much attached to place, and rarely go far away from the spot selected as their summer home; 

 and in the winter time many still remain about their summer haunts, and are prepared by the tirst warm 

 days of spring to again commence nesting. When the nest is robbed they immediately set to work to 

 replace it, building in the same tree or in one near by. Notwithstanding this apparent attachment to 

 place, they exhibit no such feeling in regard to their nest; they are easily driven from it while settino- 

 and seldom make any attempt at defense, bat will fly to some neighboring tree and silently see the eo-o-s 

 or even the young taken away without manifesting the least concern. 



The food of the Loggerhead Shrike consists in winter principally of mice, while in summer they add 

 to their bill of fare small birds and a large variety of insects. I have several times seen them capture 

 mice, once when the ground was covered with snow. At another time I saw a sparrow fall a victim to 

 this Hawk-like little bird. Frequently they impale their prey upon thorns; thus fastening a mouse or 

 ])ird to the limb of a tree, they are better able to tear it to pieces. Without some such device, it would 

 be very difficult to rend an old mouse into bits small enough to be eaten. When hunting for amuse- 

 ment, as they sometimes seem to do, a very convenient and safe cupboard for the over-supply of game 

 is afforded by a thorn-tree, and it is not uncommon to find three or four mice impaled upon \he thorns 

 of some favorite tree. 



58 



