292 



THE MIGRANT SHRIKE. 



the scientific point of view, tlie attempt to lump Ohio varieties together under 

 the proposed name L. I. inigrans, I think there can be no doubt whatever of the 

 propriety of adopting for common use the term Migrant Shrike to cover all 

 differences. 



Those whose delight it is to weigh carefully the shades of difference be- 

 tween tweedle-dum and tweedle-dee may seek the doubful illumination of the 

 preceding fine print, but plain folk who desire to know something of the local 

 Butcher-bird will prefer to begin HERE. 



In all but southern localities, where the species is partially resident, the 

 Shrike arrives about the middle of March. His patchy plumage harmonizes 

 more or less with the snow-checkered landscape, but he is nowise concerned 

 with problems of protective coloration. Seeking out some prominent perch, 

 usually at this time of year a fence-post, he divides his time between spying 

 upon the early-creeping iield mice and entertaining his lady love with out- 

 landish music. Those who have not heard our resident Shrike sing have 

 missed a treat. Tie begins with a series of rasping sounds, which are probably 



intended to produce the 

 same receptive condition on 

 his audience which Ole Bull 

 secured by awkwardlybreak- 

 ing one string af- 

 ter another on his violin 

 until only one was left. 

 There the resemblance 

 ceases, howe\-er, for 

 where the virtuoso 

 could extract a melody 

 of marvelous range and 

 sweetness from his sin- 

 gle string, the bird pro- 

 duces the sole note of 

 a struck anvil. This 

 pours forth, however, 

 in successive three-syl- 

 lal^led phrases like the 

 metallic and reiterative 

 clink of a free-falling- 

 hammer. The chief dif- 

 ference whicli ap]")ears 

 between this \oyt song 

 and tlie ordinary call of 



Taken near Cohnnhus 



riiolo i7.v llic 

 Author 



MIGRANT SHRIKE AT NEST. 



A CLOSKR VTi;w OF TFIli NEST SHOWN IN THE PRECEDING 

 ILLUSTRATION, THE BIRD IS PERCHED UPON THE EDGI-: OF 

 THE NEST BUT TS SCARCELY DISTI N GU ISII ABLE IN THE MAZE- 



