117 



Two varieties are recognized — typical hidovicianus , smaller and darker than 

 variety exciibilorides, which is lighter on the back and rump, and is known as the 

 "White-rumped shrike." Both varieties are found in the State, the former a com- 

 mon resident. I took a fully fledged young one from a nest in May and reared it 

 on meat. It became quite tame, and when I refused it the house, would follow 

 me from the butcher's and take meat from my hand. It remained in the neighbor- 

 hood until October, and was several times taken for an escaped mocking bird. 

 They kill many small birds and innocent quadrupeds, but balance the account by 

 destroying myriads of grasshoppers. Dr. Coues — a persistent opponent of the 

 European sparrow in America — contends that the shrike is entitled to our gratitude 

 "for his interference in our behalf against the bird pest of this country," The 

 shrikes killed the sparrows, and "Bostonese idiocy" killed the shrikes. "Boston 

 could scarcely do a wiser thing, as far as the sparrow plague is concerned, than 

 support a colony of shrikes." {.lb.) But we will speak of the English sparrow 

 pro and con when we come to him in his turn. 



FAMILY XYI. FRINGILLIDiE. 



{The Finches.) 



Primaries 9. Tarsus strictly oscine. Bill mostly shorter than head, robust, of a 

 conical form, with the line of union of the jaws angulated near base of bill; that 

 is, "the corners of the mouth drawn down." This feature is universal in the 

 family, and also among blackbirds, but these are known by the greater length and 

 slenderness of the bill. 



The greatest family of birds ; 500 species, throughout the world except Aus- 

 tralia. They comprise about one-eighth of American birds, and with the warblers, 

 about one-fourth of the birds of Indiana. They feed mainly on seeds, but are not 

 averse to berries or insects. Nearly all are songsters ; some are among the sweetest. 

 Usually they are plainly clad, a streaky brown being the common tint ; others vie 

 with the most brilliantly colored birds, and undergo marked changes in plumage. 



ARTIFICIAL KEY TO THE GENERA OF FINCHES. 



** Large species ; more than 73^. 

 t Tail longer than wings. 



a. Crested; red or rosy; bill large, reddish. . , . Cardinalis, 22. 

 aa. Not crested ; black or brown, with chestnut on sides ; wings and tail with 



white. .......... Pipilo, 2 . 



aaa. No crest ; -head black ; no white on tail. . . . Zonotrichia, 13. 



i't Tail shorter than wings. 



b. Bill large and stout. ("Grosbeaks.") 



c. Black and white (male) or brown, streaked (female) ; under wing coverts 

 rosy or yellow. ....... Goniaphea, 19. 



cc. 'Rosy red (male) or gray, with brownish yellow on head and rump (female.) 



Pinicola, 2. 

 ■ccc. Bill greenish yellow, as long as tarsus; wings and tail black. 



Hespeiiphona, I 



