GREAT AMERICAN SHRIKE, OR BUTCHER BIRD. 49 
GREAT AMERICAN SHRIKE, OR BUTCHER BIRD: 
LANIUS EXCUBITOR.* — Fie. 15. 
La pie grische-grise, De Buffon, i. 296. Pl. enl. 445.— Peale’s Museum, No. 
664. — White Whisky John, Phil. Trans. xii. 386.— Arct. Zool. ii. No. 127. 
LANIUS BOREALIS. — Virmuor. ; , 
Lanius borealis, Vieill. —~ North. Zool. ii. 3. 
Tue form and countenance of this bird bespeak him full of courage 
and energy; and his true character does not belie his appearance, for 
he possesses these qualities in a very eminent degree. He is repre- 
sented on the plate rather less than his true size,t but in just propor- 
tion, and with a fidelity that will enable the European naturalist to 
determine, whether this be really the same with the great cinereous 
Shrike (Lantus ercubitor, Linn.) of the eastern continent, or not; 
though the progressive variableness of the plumage, passing, accord- 
ing to age, and sometimes to climate, from ferruginous to pale ash, 
and even to a bluish white, renders it impossible that this should be 
an exact representation of every individual. 
This species is by no means numerous in the lower parts of Penn- 
sylvania; though most so.during the months of November, December, 
and Marck. Soon after this, it retires to the north, and to the higher 
inland parts of the country to breed. It frequents the deepest forests ; 
builds a large and compact nest in the upright fork of a’ small.tree ; 
composed outwardly of dry grass, and whitish moss, and warmly lined 
within with feathers. The female lays six eggs, of a pale cinereous- 
color, thickly marked at the greater end with spots and streaks of 
rufous. She sits fifteen days.. The young are produced early in 
June, sometimes towards the latter end of May; and during the 
greater part of the first season are of a brown ferruginous color on 
the back. ; 
When we compare the beak of this species with his legs and claws, 
tiplication of species. It will rank with the Baltimore Bird in the Icterus of Brisson, 
and they will form the only individuals belonging to the northern continent of 
America. According to Audubon, the flesh of the Orchard Oriole is esteemed by 
the Creoles of Louisiana, and at: the season when the broods have collected, and 
feed most upon insects in the moist meadows, they are procured for the table in 
considerable abundance. — Ep., 
* Wilson has marked this species with a note of doubt, showing the accuracy of 
his observation where he had such sleader means of making out species ; a mistake , 
also into which C. L. Bonaparte, with greater opportunities, has also fallen. Vieil- 
lot seems to have been the first to distinguish it, and Mr. Swainson has satisfactorily 
pointed out the differences; in the Northern Zoology. Lanius-excubitor is not 
found at all in America, and this species seems to fill up its want 3 the chief differ- 
ences are in the size, Lanius borealis being larger.. The female is of a browner 
shade, with more gray underneath ; the former a distribution of color in the females 
unknown among those bearing similar shades ; in habits they in every way agree 
—Eb. 
t In W Ison’s ce edition. 
