THE WHITE-RUMPED SHRIKE. 169 



the wings. They are abundant summer residents, many 

 also spending the winter throughout the Middle States; 

 becoming rare already in New England, they barely extend 

 into the British Provinces. Many migrate to the Southern 

 States, where they spend the winter in large flocks; and 

 many remain there during the summer. The Mourning 

 Doves are also common to the Pacific Coast. 



The elegant White-headed Dove of the West India Islands 

 is a summer resident of the Florida Keys. About 13.12 

 long, the "general color throughout is dark slaty-blue, 

 becoming very dark on the tail above and black beneath." 

 Crown pure white; back of neck rich purplish-brown; sides 

 of the neck elegant iridescent green, with golden reflections 

 and a fine black margin to each feather. The Zenaida Dove, 

 with a most plaintive and pathetic note, has been found by 

 Audubon only, on the Florida Keys. The plain but elegant 

 little Ground Dove, only seven inches long, "a constant 

 resident throughout the Carolinas and southward, may be 

 so easily known by its diminutive size that it needs no 

 description. Its rather elaborate nest of twigs and weeds 

 lined with usnea, and containing one or two creamy 

 white eggs, some .85 X .64, may be on the ground, or in a 

 bush or tree. The Key West Dove appears in summer on 

 Key West, as implied by its name. Excepting the Ground 

 Dove, the above group of Doves belongs to the West Indies, 

 and barely reaches the localities named in summer. 



THE WHITE-RUMPED SHRIKE. 



About this 12th of April I observe a quite common bird of 

 this locality, the White-rumped Shrike {Collurio ludovicianus 

 var. excubitoroides), already mated. Single individuals of this 

 species are here in March, and their first brood may be 

 hatched by the latter part of April, a second appearing in 



