LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE. 
87 
much dai-ker on the upper parts ; and in having- 
he frontlet black. It also inhabits the warmer parts of 
United States ; while the great American shrike is 
®flielly confined to the northern regions, and seldom 
^^^■ids to the south of Vii'ginia. 
f his species inhabits the rice plantations of Carolina 
Jjd Georgia, where it is protected for its usefulness in 
pstroying mice. It sits, for hours together, on the 
«nce, beside the stacks of rice, watidiiiig like a cat; 
.®d as soon as it perceives a mouse, darts on it like a 
'^'vk. It also feeds on crickets and grasshoppers. Its 
in March, resembles the clear creaking of a sign- 
'uai'd in windy weather. It builds its nest, as I was 
moiiugd, genei’ally in a detached bush, much like that 
Ihe mocking bird ; but, as the spring was not then 
^'efficiently advanced, I had no opportunity of seeing 
I «ggs. It is generally known by the name of the 
'^^erhead. 
^his species is nine inches long, and thirteen in 
®^tent; the colour above is cinereous, or dark ash; 
^?imlars and line over the eye, whitish ; wings, black, 
a small spot of white at the base of the primaries, 
P'1 tipt with white ; a stripe of black passes along the 
'^''at, through each eye, half way down the side of the 
; eye, dark hazel, sunk below the eyebrow ; tail, 
^neiform, the four middle feathers wholly black ; the 
exterior ones, on each side, tipt more and more 
ith white to the outer one, which is nearly all white; 
hole lower parts, white ; and in some specimens, both 
males and females, marked with transverse lines of 
pale brown ; bill and legs, black. 
. The female is considerably darker both above and 
slow, but the black does not reach so high on the 
*’'"*1 ; it is also rather less in size. 
