288 THE NORTHERN SHRIKE. 



large, white terminal blotches on outer feathers, decreasing in size inwardly; a 

 black band through eye, including auriculars ; below grayish white, the feathers 

 of the breast and sides narrowly tipped with dusky, producing a uniform, fine 

 vermiculation which is always present; bill blackish, lightening at base of lower 

 mandible ; feet black. Young birds are barred or washed with grayish brown. 

 The plumage of adult is sometimes overcast above with a faint olivaceous tinge. 

 Length 9.25-10.75 (235.-273. i) : wing 4.50 (114.3); tail 4.19 (106.4); bill .72 

 (18.3). 



Recognition Marks. — Robm size; gray and black coloring; sharply hooked 

 bill ; breast vermiculated with dusky, as distinguished from next species. 



Nesting. — Does not breed in Ohio. Nest, a well constructed bowl of sticks, 

 thorn-twigs, grasses, and trash, heavily lined with plant-down and feathers ; in 

 bushes or low trees. Bggs, 3-7, dull white or greenish gray, thickly dotted and 

 spotted with olive-green, brown, or lavender. Av. size, 1.07 x .78 (27.2 x 19.8). 



General Range. — Northern North America ; south in winter to the middle 

 portions of the United States. Breeds north of the United States except spar- 

 ingly in northern New England. 



Range in Ohio. — Not uncommon spring and fall migrant ; occasional winter 

 resident. 



FLITTING like a gray ghost in the wake of the cheerful hosts of Juncoes 

 and Redpolls, comes this butcher of the North in search of his accustomed prey. 

 If it is his first visit south he posts himself suddenly upon the tip of a neigh- 

 boring tree and rasps out an inquiry of the man with the gun. Those that sur- 

 vive these indiscretions are thereafter faintly descried in the distance either in 

 the act of diving from some anxious summit, or else winging swiftly over 

 the inequalities of the ground. 



All times are killing time for this bloodthirsty fellow, and even in winter 

 he "jerks" the meat not necessary for present consumption — be it chilly-footed 

 mouse or palpitating Sparrow — upon some convenient thorn. In spring the 

 north-bound bird is somewhat more amiable, being better fed, and he pauses 

 from time to time during the retreat to sing a strange medley, which has won 

 for him the name "Great Electric Buzz." This is meant for a love song, and 

 is doubtless so understood by the proper authorities, but its rendition some- 

 times produces about the same effect upon a troop of Finches which a cata- 

 mount's serenade has upon the cowering deer. 



It is quite the fashion nowadays to discover, after much scrutiny of rudely 

 arrested meals, that various bird-devils are not really so black as they have been 

 painted. This is welcome news to those of us who have become so thoroughly 

 identified with the bird-world as to desire easy shrift for its sins; but one won- 

 ders in the case of the Butcher-bird at least, whether the laity will receive it. 

 It is high doctrine for one who has really seen the cruel beak dyed red with 



