average of a number of nests is as follows: outside diameter, six and three-fourths inches; inside 
diameter, three and three-eighths inches ; outside depth, four and one-fourtli inches ; depth of cavity, two 
and three-eighths inches. 
EGGS: 
The full complement of eggs is six, and this number is usually deposited in every set. The shell 
is sometimes white, but generally it has a faint wash of dingy yellowish-brown, and is marked with 
irregular spots and blotches of darker shades of the same color, to which a few obscure purplish-brown 
spots may be added. The markings may be quite uniformly distributed, or most abundant about the 
crown, where occasionally they form a complete wreath the smaller end being almost or wholly immacu- 
late, or they may be thickest at the point. Eggs of the same set vary but little in size and markings. 
In some sets the shell has a high polish, but commonly it is dull. All the eggs which I have taken 
from early nests — eggs laid by birds that have remained in the state during the winter — -have had glossy 
shells, and have been longer and narrower than those collected later. Whether this is merely an acci- 
dental occurrence, or can be accounted for by climate, I am unable to say. The average of sixty 
specimens is .98 x .75 ; the largest, 1.04 x .82 ; the smallest, .90 x .70. They are deposited every day 
or alternate days, and incubated in about fourteen days. 
DIFFERENTIAL POINTS : 
As stated on page 52, there is often a great similarity between the nest of the Loggerhead Shrike 
and that of the Kingbird ( Tyrannus carofynensis), but the former never contains the peculiar plaster 
described on page 51. The resemblance which the nests and eggs of C. borealis (Butcherbird) bears to 
this species, will be considered under C. borealis. Variety exeubitoroides builds a nest and lays eggs in 
every particular like C. ludovicianus. The size, color, and markings of the eggs under consideration will 
distinguish them in nearly every other instance. 
REMARKS : 
The nest illustrated was taken on the 5th of June, 1879, from a thorn-tree standing on the bank of 
the Ohio canal ; it is constructed like the average nest, and contained six eggs. The eggs illustrated 
are from three different sets ; they represent the extremes and average, both in size and color. The old 
birds are much attached to place, and rarely go far away from the spot selected as their summer home ; 
and in the winter time many still remain about their summer haunts, and are prepared by the first warm 
days of spring to again commence nesting. When the nest is robbed they immediately set to work to 
replace it, building in the same tree or in one near by. Notwithstanding this apparent attachment to 
place, they exhibit no such feeling in regard to their nest; they are easily driven from it while setting, 
and seldom make any attempt at defense, but will fly to some neighboring tree and silently see the eggs 
or even the young taken away without manifesting the least concern. 
The food of the Loggerhead Shrike consists in winter principally of mice, while in summer they add 
to their bill of fare small birds and a large variety of insects. I have several times seen them capture 
mice, once when the ground was covered with snow. At another time I saw a sparrow fall a victim to 
this Hawk-like little bird. Frequently they impale their prey upon thorns; thus fastening a mouse or 
bird to the limb of a tree, they are better able to tear it to pieces. Without some such device, it would 
be very difficult to rend an old mouse into bits small enough to be eaten. When hunting for amuse- 
ment, as they sometimes seem to do, a ver} r convenient and safe cupboard for the over-supply of game 
is afforded by a thorn-tree, and it is not uncommon to find three or four mice impaled upon the thorns 
of some favorite tree. 
58 
