THE MIGRANT SHRIKE. 289 



some winter songster's gore. I, for one, am willing to accept with becoming 

 hnmility the verdict of the leading stomachologists Avith reference to most 

 birds, but when one of them extols the moderation of the Northern Shrike, I 

 reserve the right to do a little incredulous grumbling. It is true that the bird 

 sometimes allows his fond glance to fall upon the English Sparrow — and in 

 so far he is above reproach — but it is not recorded that the creature exercises 

 proper discrimination between the beggar in fustian and our gentle guests of 

 woodland and weed-lot. No doubt, too, our northern brigand would eat mice 

 or grasshoppers by preference, and does when opportunity offers, but it is no 

 fault of ours that we cannot set such viands before his butchership in winter, 

 so that he must needs fall to eating our Juncoes and Goldfinches. The slaugh- 

 ter of Horned Larks and the terrorizing of an innocent band of Tree Sparrows 

 are offences not easily forgiven. Have at thee, Sirrah ! My gun is loaded ! 



No. 128. 



MIGRANT SHRIKE. 



A. IvOGGBRHEAD SHRIKE. 



A. O. U. No. 622. Lanius ludovicianus L,inn. 



Description. — Adult: Dark bluish gray above; rump just perceptibly 

 lighter; lower scapulars tipped with black; wings black, a small white spot at 

 base of primaries; the inner quills narrowly tipped with white; tail black, the 

 outer pair of feathers broadly tipped with white, and the succeeding pairs less so or 

 not at all; below grayish white, sordid on breast, but everywhere strongly con- 

 trasting with upper parts ; narrow frontal line, including nasal tufts, lores and 

 ear-coverts, black, — continuous, and passing mostly below eye ; bill and feet black. 

 Immature : Colors of adult less strongly contrasted ; lower parts washed with 

 brownish; loral bar obscure; more or less vermiculated.with dusky all over (in 

 younger birds), or upon the under parts alone; ends of wing-quills, coverts, and 

 tail-feathers often with ochraceous or rusty markings. Length 9.00 (228.6) ; 

 wing 3.78 (96.); tail 3.70 (94.); bill .61 (15.5). The description is from a 

 typical South Carolina bird in the O. S. U. collection. Ohio' birds, even when 

 clearly referable to this form, average much lighter and somewhat larger. 



Recognition Marks. — Chewink to Robin size; dark gray above; whitish 

 below; black patch on head; white spot on wing; breast of adult unmarked, as 

 distinguished from L. borealis; dark gray or ashy on rump, as distinguished from 

 L. I. ex cubit or ides. 



Nest, a bulky, but well put together mass of sticks, thorn-twigs, weed-stalks 

 and the like, carefully lined with plant-down, wool or feathers, placed five to 



