GREAT AMERICAN SHRIKE. 
103 
climate, from ferruginous to pale asli, and even to a bluish white, ren- 
ders it impossible that this should be an exact representation of every 
individual. 
This species is by no means numerous in the lower parts of Pennsyl- 
vania ; though most so during the months of November, December and 
March. Soon after this it retires to the north, and to the higlier inland 
parts of the country to breed. It frequents the deepest forests ; builds 
a large and compact nest in the upright fork of a small tree, composed 
outwardly of .dry grass, and whitish moss, and warmly lined within with 
feathers. The female lays six eggs, of a pale cinereous color, thickly 
marked at the greater end with spots and streaks of rufous. She sits 
fifteen days. The young are produced early in June, sometimes 
towards the latter end of May ; and during the greater part of the 
fii'st season are of a brown ferruginous color on the back. 
• When we compare the beak of this species, with his legs and claws, 
they appear to belong to two very different orders of birds ; the former 
approaching, in its conformation, to that of the Accipitrine ; the latter 
to those of the Pies ; and, indeed, in his food and manners, he is assimi- 
lated to both. For though man has arranged and subdivided this nu- 
merous class of animals into separate tribes and families, yet nature has 
united these to each other by such nice gradations, and so intimately, 
that it is hardly possible to determine where one tribe ends, or the suc- 
ceeding commences. We therefore find several eminent naturalists 
classing this genus of birds with the Accipitrine, others with the Pies. 
Like the former he preys, occasionally, on other birds ; and like the 
latter on insects, particularly grasshoppers, which I believe to be his 
principal food ; having at almost all times, even in winter, found them 
in his stomach. In the month of December, and while the country was 
deeply covered with snow, I shot one of these birds, near the head 
"waters of the Mohawk river, in the state of New York, the stomach of 
which was entirely filled with large black spiders. He was of a much 
purer white, above, than any I have since met with ; though evidently 
of the same species with the present ; and I think it probable, that the 
males become lighter colored as they advance in age, till the minute 
transverse lines of brown on the lower parts almost disappear. 
In his manners he has more resemblance to the pies than to birds of 
prey, particularly in the habit of carrying off his surplus food, as if to 
hoard it for future exigences ; with this difference, that Crows, Jays, 
Magpies, &o., conceal theirs at random, in holes and crevices, where 
perhaps it is forgotten or never again found ; while the Butcher-bird 
sticks his on thorns and bushes, where it shrivels in the sun, and soon 
becomes equally useless to the hoarder. Both retain the same habits 
in a state of confinement, whatever the food may be that is presented 
to them. 
