57 



LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE. 

 LAJVIUS CAROLINENSIS. 

 [Plate XXH.— Fig. 5.] 



Peale's Museum, No. 557, 



THIS 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 

 it like 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 I 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 Logger- 

 head. 



This species is nine inches long, and thirteen in extent; the 

 color above is cinereous or dark ash ; scapulars and line over the 

 eye whitish ; wings black, with a small spot of white at the base 

 of the primaries, and tipt with white ; a stripe of black passes along 

 the front through each eye half way down the side of the neck ; 



* Vol. I, plate V, fig. 1. 



VOL. nr. p 



