THE LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE. 137 



Crow and even the Buzzard, that approach his nest, and invariably driving 

 these intruders away. Indeed I consider these birds as evidencing great 

 attachment toward each other. 



"I have usually found the nest on the outer limbs of a tree, frequently the 

 live-oak, sometimes the black-gum (Liquidambar styraciflua), and often 

 on a cedar, from fifteen to thirty feet from the ground. Once only I saw it 

 lower, on the toothache bush, Xanthoxylum, about ten feet high. 



"I have occasionally seen this bircl with young mice in its mouth, and 

 have found it feeding on birds that had apparently been wounded by the 

 sportsman. It sometimes catches young birds and devours them; but I am 

 induced to think, from the observation of many years, that the food of the 

 Loggerhead Shrike consists principally of insects. Grasshoppers and crickets 

 are preferred; coleopterous and other insects are also frequently seized; and 

 I have seen it catch moths and butterflies on wing. This bird has the same 

 propensity as the Northern Shrike, to stick grasshoppers and other insects 

 on thorns. I have seen one occupy himself for hours in sticking up in this 

 way a number of small fishes that the fishermen had thrown on the shore; 

 but I never found either this or the Northern Shrike return to seek this 

 prey for food at any other time; but on the contrary, the fishes dried up and 

 decayed. I have seen them alight on the same thorn-bush afterwards, but 

 never make use of this kind of food. May it not be the same propensity 

 which Jays have, who conceal nuts and grain, and apparently do not return 

 to devour them? 



"The Loggerheaded Shrike is partially migratory in Carolina. A few 

 may be found through the winter; but the number is ten times greater in 

 summer; and such is also the case with the Mocking-bird. It appears fond 

 of the little changeable Green Lizard {Jlnolius Carolinensis, Cuv.), and I 

 have seen exertions of skill and activity on the one part in seizing, and on 

 the other in avoiding their enemy, but the reptile, in spite of all its agility, 

 is frequently secured. On one occasion I had marked a lizard of this species 

 on a fence. It was then beautifully green; but on being chased by a Shrike, 

 which observing me flew off, I found that it had become quite brown. 



"This species breeds twice in a season, lays four and sometimes five white 

 eggs. Occasionally it feeds on the small black berries of a species of Smilacc; 

 this is in winter, when it is probably pinched for food. I have noticed it 

 building its nest in the same tree for a succession of years, never repairing 

 an old nest but always building a new one." 



According to Mr. Swainson this species is found on the table-land of 

 Mexico, where it is very common. 



I have given you, kind reader, the representation of a pair of these 

 Shrikes, contending for a mouse. The difference of plumage in the sexes is 



Vol. IV. 19 



