136 THE LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE. 



flight being produced by quick flutterings of the wings, without any apparent 

 undulation. The bird alights in a sudden firm manner, like a Hawk, stands 

 erect, silent and watchful, until it spies its prey on the ground, when it 

 suddenly pounces upon it, striking it first ivith its bill, but seizing it with 

 its claws so immediately after, that the most careful observation alone can 

 enable one to decide as to the priority of either action. I have never seen 

 it attack birds, nor stick its prey on thorns in the manner of the Great 

 American Shrike. 



This bird appears in Louisiana only at intervals, and seldom remains more 

 than a few weeks in December or January. It never comes near houses, 

 although it frequents the fields around them. It has no note at this period, 

 and appears singly, alighting on the stacks and fences, where it stands 

 perched for a considerable time, carefully looking around over the ground. 

 As soon as the spot is thoroughly examined, it flies off to another, and there 

 renews its search. 



I have received specimens of our Loggerhead Shrike, of both sexes and of 

 various ages, from Mr. Townsend, who procured them on the Rocky Moun- 

 tains and in the Columbia river district. These specimens are in no respect 

 different from those which I have obtained in South Carolina, where it is 

 plentiful. That this species should occur on both sides of the continent is 

 not very remarkable, as several other birds are in the same predicament. 

 The Fish Crow, for example, affords a more striking instance, as it is rarely 

 found beyond the maritime districts; whereas the Loggerhead Shrike extends 

 its movements far inland in the States of Georgia, Alabama, and Louisiana. 

 This species has been given as new, under the name of Lanius Excubito- 

 roides, in the Fauna Boreali-Americana; but the description and figure 

 indicate nothing peculiar; and the nest and eggs described by Mr. Drum- 

 mond, especially the latter, are similar to those of the Carolina-bird. 



My account of the habits of this species being meagre, I have great plea- 

 sure in laying before you the observations of my friend the Rev. Dr. 

 Bachman, who has had much better opportunities of studying them. "Your 

 description of this bird requires, I think, many additions. You say it has 

 no song. This is true in part, but it has other notes than the grating sounds 

 you attribute to it. During the breeding season, and indeed nearly all 

 summer, the male ascends some cedar or other tree, and makes an effort at a 

 song, which I cannot compare to anything nearer than the first attempts of a 

 young Brown Thrush. He seems to labour hard, making as it were almost 

 painful exertions. At times the notes are not unpleasing, but very irregular. 



"You speak of the male shewing but little attachment to the female. I 

 have thought differently, and so would you were you to watch him carrying 

 every now and then a grasshopper or cricket to her, pouncing upon the 



