344 
LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE. 
LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE. — LANIUS CAROLINENSIS. 
Plate XXII. Fig. 5. 
I 
Peale's Museum , No. 557. 
LANIUS LUDOVICIANUS.— Bonaparte. 
Lanius Ludovicianus, Bonap. Synop. p. 72 The Loggerhead Shrike, Aud. pi. 57, 
male and female ; Orn. Biog. i. p. 300. 
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 colour, 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 Loggerhead, f 
* See Plate V. Fig. 1. 
f In the remarks on the Tyrannince, I observed that only two of the sub- 
families of the greater division Laniadce existed in North America, — that 
now alluded to, and the Laniance, of which our present species, with the L. 
borealis of a former plate, and that of Europe, will form typical examples. 
Ornithologists have always been at variance with regard to the position of 
these birds, and have placed them alike with the rapacious Falcons and timid 
