344 NESTS AND EGGS OF 



Southern Ohio. Its habits are essentially the same as those of the 

 Northern Shrike and is not less savage and blood-thirsty. The con- 

 struction of the nest is begun in Ohio as early as the middle of April, 

 and frequently at this time the birds are sitting on the full complement 

 of eggs. The nesting season, however, is in the month of June, and a 

 second brood is reared some weeks later. The full complement of 

 eggs is six. The nest is built in hedges, scrubby, isolated little trees 

 in cultivated fields, thorn trees growing along streams or roadsides; 

 thickets along railroads are favorite resorts, and the telegraph wire is 

 their favorite perch. The nest is large, loose, and bulky, composed of 

 weed-stems, grasses, corn-stalks, rootlets, paper, wool, and chicken 

 feathers (the latter being the lining, it is often very thick), the feathers 

 concealing the eggs from view. 



The eggs are identical with those of borealzs, but average smaller, 

 .97 X .73. Eleven eggs measure, .91 x .72, .92 x .70, .92 x .73, .95 x .76, 

 .98 X .79, i.oo X .78, .99 X .77, 1.02 X .80, i.oo X .82, .96 X .79, .98 X .72. 



622o. Lanius ludovicianus excubitorides (Swains.) [149a. J 



'White-ramped Shrike. 



Hab. Central region of North America, from the Saskatchewan country southward, over table-lands 

 of Mexico; west to Lower California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, etc.; eastward across the Plains to the Middle 

 and New England States. Rare or local east of the Alleghanies. 



More recent investigations develop the fact that this bird, once 

 described as a western form, has extended its range eastward, north of 

 that of ludovicianus. It breeds nearly throughout its entire range. In 

 Western Manitoba, according to Mr. Thompson, it is abundant all over 

 from May to September. Col. N. S. Goss records it as a common sum- 

 mer resident of Kansas ; begins laying early in May. Mr. Scott notes 

 it as rather common throughout the year about Tucson, Arizona. In 

 the Catalinas, at an altitude of 3700 feet, he found a nest of this species 

 containing five eggs almost ready to hatch, April i, 1885. Breeds as 

 far north as Northern New York and Northern New England. This is 

 the common breeding form in the northern portion of Ohio, where also 

 occasionally well-marked individuals of ludovicianus are taken. Prof. 

 Evermann states that until recently this bird was a very rare resident 

 of Carroll county, Indiana, becoming more common since 1882.* This 

 bird builds a nest and lays eggs in every particular like the IvOggerhead, 

 and its general traits are the same. A large series of eggs from Cuya- 

 hoga and Huron counties, Ohio, do not exhibit any diflFerence whatever. 



* * Lanius ludovicianus gambeli Ridgw. [149a, pari.] 



California Shrike- 



Hab. Coast of California. 



Mr. A. M. Shields states that this new variety of Shrike is well 



» Birds of Carroll county, Indiana. By Barton W. Evermann: The Auk, Vol. V, 341-851; VI, 22-30. 



