LOGGEKHEAD SHRIKE. 345 



the United States (Washington, D.C., Kentucky, Kansas, Colorado, Arizona, 

 Northern California). 



Nest, rested on a platform of sticks and twigs in a low tree or bush ; 

 composed of weWs, rootlets, bark strips, moss, fine grass and feathers. 



Eggs, four to six. The ground color is greenish-gray, but this is almost 

 hidden by the profuse markings of purple and reddish-brown. 



In Southern Ontario a iew individuals of Jbhis species are seen 

 every winter. They arrive from tlie north in Octobex', and remain 

 with us if the weather be mild, but if it becomes severe about the 

 end of the year, they disappear and are not observed again until 

 March. They like the open country, usually taking their position, 

 sentinel-like, on the topmost twig of a low tree or bush, from which 

 they notice all that moves within a certain radius. 



I once saw a pair of these birds unite to hunt down an unfor- 

 tunate Junco. It took shelter in a patch of scrubby brush, and the 

 Shrikes, not being able to clutch it as a hawk would have done, 

 sought to wear it out by fright and fatigue. As there were two of 

 them taking the work by turns, they would probably have succeeded 

 had I not stopped the proceedings by collecting the two Shrikes, 

 and so saving the life of the Junco. They, no doubt, breed in the 

 northern portion of the Province, but in the south I have not heard 

 of their being found so engaged. 



They are common in Manitoba and the North- West, also through- 

 out the interior of Alaska, and Dr. Bell mentions having seen them 

 on the western side of Hudson's Bay. From these distant regions 

 they advance through Ontario in the fall, finding an abundant 

 supply of game awaiting them in passer- domesticus, whose ranks are 

 thus thinned without apparent reduction in their numbers. 



LANIUS LUDOVICIANUS (Linn.). 

 254. . Loggerhead Shrike. (622) 



Slate-colored, slightly whitish on the rump and scapulars ; below, white, 

 with a few obscure wavy black lines, or none ; black bar on one side of the 

 head, meeting its fellow across the forehead, not interrupted by white on under 

 eyelid, and scarcely or not bordered above by hoary white ; otherwise like 

 horecdin in color, but smaller ; 8-8^ ; wing, about 4 ; tail, rather more. 



Hab. — Eastern United States, north to Maine, west to the Prairies of the 

 Upper Mississippi Valley. 



