136 
THE LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE. 
flight being produced by quick flutterings of the wings, without any apparent 
undulation. The bird alights in a sudden firm manner, like a Hawk, stanrk 
erect, silent and watchful, until it spies its prey on the ground, when it 
suddenly pounces upon it, striking it first with its bill , but seizing it with 
its claws so immediately after, that the most careful observation alone can 
enable one to decide as to the priority of either action. I have never seen 
it attack birds, nor stick its prey on thorns in the manner of the Great 
American Shrike. 
This bird appears in Louisiana only at intervals, and seldom remains more 
than a few weeks in December or January. It never comes near houses, 
although it frequents the fields around them. It has no note at this period, 
and appears singly, alighting on the stacks and fences, where it stands 
perched for a considerable time, carefully looking around over the ground. 
As soon as the spot is thoroughly examined, it flies off to another, and 
there renews its search. 
I have received specimens of our Loggerhead Shrike, of both sexes and of 
various ages, from Mr. Townsend, who procured them on the Rocky Moun- 
tains and in the Columbia river district. These specimens are in no respect 
different from those which I have obtained in South Carolina, where it is 
plentiful. That this species should occur on both sides of the continent is 
not very remarkable, as several other birds are in the same predicament. 
The Fish Crow, for example, affords a more striking instance, as it is rarely 
found beyond the maritime districts ; whereas the Loggerhead Shrike extends 
its movements far inland in the States of Georgia, Alabama, and Louisiana. 
This species has been given as new, under the name of Lanius Excubito 
roides, in the Fauna Boreali- Americana ; but the description and figure 
indicate nothing peculiar ; and the nest and eggs described by Mr. Drum- 
mond, especially the latter, are similar to those of the Carolina-bird. 
My account of the habits of this species being meagre, I have great plea- 
sure in laying before you the observations of my friend the Rev. Dr. 
Bachman, who has had much better opportunities of studying them. “ Your 
description of this bird requires, I think, many additions. You say it has 
no song. This is true in part, but it has other notes than the grating sounds 
you attribute to it. During the breeding season, and indeed nearly all 
summer, the male ascends some cedar or other tree, and makes an effort at 
a song, which I cannot compare to anything nearer than the first attempts of 
a young Brown Thrush. He seems to labour hard, making as it were almost 
painful exertions. At times the notes are not unpleasing, but very irregular. 
“ You speak of the male shewing but little attachment to the female. I 
have thought differently, and so would you were you to watch him carrying 
every now and then a grasshopper or cricket to her, pouncing upon the 
