AMERICAN BUTCHER BIRD. 
81 
GENUS XI X. — LANIUS, Linnaeus. 
87 . LANIUS EXCUBITOR , WILSON. — LAN JUS BOREALIS , VIEILL. 
AMERICAN SHRIKE, OR BUTCHER BIRD. 
WILSON, PLATE V. FIG. I. — EDINBURGH COLLEGE MUSEUM. 
The form and countenance of this bird bespeak him 
full of courage and energy ; and his true character does 
not belie his appearance, for he possesses these qualities 
in a very eminent degree. 
This species is by no means numerous in the lower 
parts of Pennsylvania; though most so during the 
months of November, December, and March. Soon 
after this, it retires to the north, and to the higher 
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 colour, 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 first season are of a brown ferruginous 
colour 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 assimilated to both. For though man has arranged 
and subdivided this numerous 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 succeeding commences. We therefore find 
several eminent naturalists classing this genus of birds 
with the accipitrine, others with the pies. Like the 
VOL. II. F 
