310 BIRDS—LANIIDZ. 
Northern Shrike. Probably fewer quadrupeds and birds compose its fare, 
with a greater proportion of insects and small reptiles. They are not 
less savage and bloodthirsty than the Northern Shrike. The young are 
frequently caught and sold to the uninitiated for young Mocking-birds, 
but if two of them be placed in the same cage, the doctrine of the ‘“sur- 
vival of the fittest” is speedily demonstrated. In this vicinity it is 
generally distributed: in open country, never in woodland or in the 
city. It prefers rich bottoms, but is often found in upland _ fields. 
Thickets along railroads are a favorite resort, affording a constant supply 
of food, suitable breeding sites, and a favorite perch upon a telegraph 
wire. In other situations a fence-stake is a favorite perch, often beside 
a public road, for the curiosity of this species is not so easily satisfied as 
that of the Northern Shrike. They fly from their perch to the ground 
to secure insects, their actions in this respect resembling those of the 
Red-headed Woodpecker. They are generally in pairs on their arrival, 
and almost immediately proceed to the business of nesting. The nest 
is built in a tree or bush, often with no attempt at concealment, but fre- 
quently in the almost inaccessable branches of a honey locust, or in 
an osage-orange hedge. Usually they are within fifteen feet from the 
ground, sometimes not more than three. Until the young are hatched, 
their behaviour when the nest is approached or examined, does not differ 
from mild-mannered birds, but when the young are in danger they are 
exceedingly combative in resenting it, flying closely over head with 
open mouths and hoarse shrieks. Their cries attract birds of the same 
species from a great distance, but these remain idle though excited spec- 
tators. The nest is large and deep, and with us resembles the nest of 
the Northern Shrike, above described. When built near a railroad they 
frequently employ the cotton used in cleaning engines in its construc- 
tion. Few birds form so compact a nest of similar materials. The birds 
occupy the nest for several days before laying commences. The eggs are 
often laid in April. They are of a light grayish color, spotted with lav- 
ender, yellowish- and pinkish: brown, and can not be distinguished from 
the eggs of var. excubitorides. More southern nests are described as 
smailer and much shallower. The average measurement of the egg is 
1.05 by .75. 
LANIUS LUDOVICIANUS Linnseus, 
var. EXCUBITORIDES (Sw.) Cs. 
W hite-rumped Shrike. 
Collyrio excubitoroides, WHEATON, Ohio Agric. Rep. for 1860, 1061, addenda, 480; Re- 
print, 7. 
