. 
LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE. 225 
LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE.—LANIUS CAROLINENSIS. — Fre. 104. 
Peale’s Museum, No. 557. 
LANIUS LUDOVICIANUS. — Bonaparte. 
Lanius Ludovicianus, Bonap. Synop. p. 72. — The Loggerhead Shrike, Awd. pl. 57, 
"aalesatd female; rt Biog. fas 300. aa al 
Tis species has a considerable resemblance to the Great American 
Shrike.* It differs, however, from that bird in size, being a full inch 
shorter; and in color, being much darker on the upper parts; and in 
having the frontlet black. It also inhabits the warmer parts of the 
United States; while the Great American Shrike is chiefly confined 
to the northern regions, and seldom extends to the South of Virginia. 
This species inhabits the rice plantations of Carolina ‘and Georgia, 
where it is protected for its usefulness in destroying mice. It sits, for 
hours together, on the fence, beside the stacks of rice, watching like a 
cat; and as soon as it perceives a mouse, darts on itlike a Hawk. It 
also feeds on crickets and grasshoppers. Its note, in March, resembled 
the clear creaking of a sign-board in windy weather. It builds its 
nest, as | was informed, generally in a detached bush, much like that 
of the Mocking Bird; but, as the spring was not then sufficiently 
advanced, I had no opportunity of seeing its eggs. It is generally 
known by the name of the Loggerhead. + . 
* See Fig. 15. 
+ In the remarks on the Tyrannince, I observed that only two of the sub-fam- 
ilies of the greater division Laniade existed in North America, — that now alluded 
to, and the Laniane, of which our present species, with the L. borealis of a former 
late, and that of Europe, will form typical examples. Ornithologists have always 
een at variance with regard to the position of these birds, and have placed them 
alike with the rapacious Falcons and timid Thrushes. They are, however, the 
“ Falcons of the insect world ;”’ cnd among the Insessores will be the representatives 
of that group. 
America was seen to be the great country of the Tyrannine: ; in like manner 
may the Shrikes claim Africa for their great birth-place. They there wage incessant 
war on the numerous insect hosts, the larger species occasionally exercising their 
greater strength on some of the weaker individuals of the feathered race ; and by some 
gamekeepers, that of this country is killed as a bird of prey, being found to destroy 
young birds, and even to drag the weak young pheasants pee the bars of the 
breeding coops. Small animals and reptiles also form a part of their prey. The 
decrease in numbers as the colder and more temperate countries are approached ; 
and the vast extent of North America appears only to contain five species. New 
Holland alone is without any true Lanius, but is supplied by another genus, Falcun- 
culus, allied in form, and now containing two species, which also unite somewhat of 
their habits, and feed on insects, though the mode of taking their prey shows some- 
thing scansorial. : ; 
Among the Tyrants, the powers of flight are developed to a great extent, as 
suitable to the capture of the particular prey upon which they feed. In the Shrikes 
the form is considerably modified ; the wings become more rounded, and the tail 
poetycted ; and the general prey is the larger insects of the orders Coleoptera and 
emiptera, to capture which does not require so great an exercise of very quick or 
active powers, and which are often patiently watched for and pounced upon by 
‘surprise, in a similar manner to that described of the North American Loggerhead. 
They have all the character of being cruel and tyrannous, arising from the pecu- 
