Char. Bill very powerful, strong, and much compressed, the tip abruptly hooked, deeply notched, and with a prominent tooth behind the notch; both mandibles distinctly notched, the upper with a distinct tooth behind, the lower with the point bent up. Tarsi longer than the middle toe, strongly scutellate. Primaries ten; first primary half the second, or shorter (occasionally wanting). Wings short, rounded; tail long and much graduated. Sides of tarsi with the plates divided on the outside.
Of this family only a single genus is known in North America.
Genus COLLURIO, Vigors.
Collurio, Vigors, Pr. Zoöl. Soc. 1831, 42. (Type, Lanius excubitor, L.)
Lanius, Auct. (not of Linnæus, whose type is L. cristatus).
Collyrio, G. R. Gray.—Baird, Birds N. Am. 1858, 323.
Collurio excubitoroides.
38423
Gen. Char. Feathers of forehead stiffened; base of bill, including nostrils, covered by bristly feathers directed forward. Bill shorter than the head, much compressed, and very powerful. Culmen decurved from base, the mandible abruptly bent down in a powerful hook with an acute lobe near the tip. Tip of lower mandible bent upwards in a hook; the gonys very convex. Rictus with long bristles. Legs stout; the tarsi rather short, and longer than the middle toe; the lateral equal; the claws all very sharp and much curved. Wings rounded; the first primary about half the second, which is equal to the sixth or seventh. Tail longer than the wings, much graduated, the feathers broad.
But few species of this genus belong to America, and these are confined to the northern portion. For the purpose of more readily identifying the species we present a brief diagnosis, and then furnish descriptions of all (including a European ally) in a single table.
Species.
A. Outer webs of secondaries wholly white for basal half (mostly concealed by coverts, however). Upper eyelid white.
C. excubitor.[82] Nasal tufts grayish-white. In other respects, as regards colors, like excubitoroides. Wing, 4.20; tail, 4.00; tarsus, .95. Hab. Europe.
B. Outer webs of secondaries black to the base. Upper eyelids black.
a. White crescent on lower eyelid. Beneath with wavy bars of dusky in all stages. Tarsus less than 1.00; wing more than 4.50.
C. borealis. Upper half of nasal tufts white. Black spectacle bordered above the ear-coverts by hoary whitish. Scapulars and upper tail-coverts approaching white. Wing, 4.70; tail, 4.70; tarsus, .93. Hab. Arctic America; in winter south into United States, especially into the northern portions.
b. No white crescent on lower eyelid. Beneath without bars, except in young. Tarsus more than 1.00; wing less than 4.50.
C. ludovicianus. Black spectacle not bordered over ear-coverts with whitish.
White patch on primaries reaching nearly as far as end of first quill. Nasal tufts entirely black.
Black of lores and nasal tufts bordered above with hoary whitish. Tail white at base; inner webs of secondaries paler toward margin, but not abruptly white. Beneath entirely white, without ashy tinge laterally, or across breast. Axillars whitish. Upper tail-coverts ashy-white, scapulars pure white. Wing, 4.10; tail, 4.20; tarsus, 1.10; bill, .50. Hab. Western North America from Pacific Coast east to a little beyond the Mississippi, and to Texas. Nearly all of Mexico … var. excubitoroides.
Black of lores, etc., not bordered above by whitish. Tail black at base. Inner webs of secondaries pure white to the shaft on basal half. Beneath tinged with ashy laterally and across breast. Scapulars and upper tail-coverts hardly different from back. Bill, .60. Hab. California and fur countries … var. robustus.
White patch on primaries reaching only about half-way to end of first quill. Nasal tufts hoary-grayish above.
Black of lores bordered above by hoary-whitish. Tail as in elegans,—secondaries as in excubitoroides. Beneath very strongly tinged with plumbeous laterally and across breast. Upper tail-coverts like the back, posterior scapulars only inclining to white. Axillars plumbeous. Wing, 3.80; tail, 3.95; tarsus, 1.00; bill, .50. Hab. South Atlantic and Gulf States … var. ludovicianus.
We now proceed to give a more detailed table of these species, and under the heading of each shall omit any further description:—
General Color. Bluish or plumbeous ash above; the outer edges of scapulars, sometimes the forehead and rump, paler. Beneath white, sometimes with waved transverse dark lines. A broad black stripe from side of upper bill through eye (extending more widely beneath than above it, sometimes wanting above) to end of ear-coverts. Wings (except lesser coverts) and tail black; the former with a white patch across base of primaries, sometimes on inner webs of secondaries; the secondaries tipped with white; the tail with broad white tips to the lateral feathers, the concealed bases of which are also usually white.
A. Black cheek-stripes involving eyelid only on upper border of eye, and not meeting across the forehead. A crescentic patch of white in the black below the eye; upper edge of black stripe behind the eye bordered by hoary whitish. Breast and belly always with distinct, transverse waved lines of dusky. Bill, when mature, entirely black. Length about 10 inches.
Above light ash. Upper tail-coverts and forehead much paler than the back, the former without waved lines. Axillars whitish.
Inner webs of secondaries paler towards edges, but not of well-defined white. Concealed bases of tail-feathers, except sixth, white. Tarsus shorter than the gape of mouth. Length, 10.00; extent, 14.50; wing, 4.70; tail, 4.70; bill above, .85; tarsus, .93 … borealis.
B. Black cheek-stripes not involving upper border of eye or upper eyelid, which is whitish, and not meeting across the forehead, its upper edge behind the eye with scarcely a lighter border. No patch of white on lower eyelid. Under parts unvaried white; in female obscurely waved. Base of under mandible whitish. Length about 9 inches.
Above light ash. Upper tail-coverts and forehead decidedly paler than the back. Axillars whitish.
Inner webs of all secondaries (except innermost) white to shaft, except for less than terminal half, which is black along the shaft. Concealed base of tail white, except on sixth feather. Tarsus equal to the gape … excubitor.
C. Black cheek-stripes involving upper eyelid, as in A, but without patch of white below the eye; meeting in a narrow, sometimes inconspicuous, line across the forehead, its upper edge behind the eye not bordered by lighter. Beneath plain white, or very obscurely waved in ludovicianus (the female?). Bill, when mature, entirely black. Length about 8.50 inches.
Above dark plumbeous-ash. Upper tail-coverts and forehead scarcely paler than the back. Sides and breast tinged with bluish-gray.
Black of loral space rather hoary along upper border. Frontal dark line inappreciable or wanting. Inner webs of secondaries paler only along the marginal half, and not abruptly white. Axillars plumbeous. Tail-feathers, except the innermost, with a concealed well-defined white patch at base, largest on the more exterior one. Bill from nostril, .50. Under parts often with very obscure faint waved lines (in the female?). White patch on wing reaching about to middle of first primary. Tarsus equal to the gape. Length, 8.50; wing, 3.72; tail, 4.10; bill above, .82; tarsus, 1.00 … ludovicianus.
Black of loral space without any lightening above it. Frontal black band well marked. Inner webs of secondaries (except innermost) pure white to shaft, except along rather more than terminal half, where the shaft is bordered by black. Axillars whitish. Tail-feathers black to base, except the loose fibres, which are grayish. Bill from nostril, .60. Under parts without waved lines. White patch on wing reaching nearly opposite to end of first primary. Tarsus about equal to the gape. Length, 8.75; wing, 4.20; tail, 4.40; bill above, 1.00; tarsus, 1.20 … elegans.
Above light ash-color. Upper tail-coverts and forehead much lighter than the back, the former sometimes almost white. Sides and breast generally nearly pure white.
Black of loral space with conspicuous hoary margin above it. Inner web of secondaries much as in C. ludovicianus. Axillars whitish. Tail-feathers with concealed white patch at bases of all the feathers. Bill from nostril about .50. No waved lines beneath. White patch on wing reaching nearly opposite to end of first primary. Tarsus longer than the gape. Length, 8.50; wing, 4.05; tail, 4.25; bill above, .83; tarsus, 1.12 … excubitoroides.
PLATE XIX.
GREAT NORTHERN SHRIKE, OR BUTCHER-BIRD.
Lanius borealis, Viellot, Ois. Am. Sept. I, 1807, 90, pl. 1.—Sw.—Aud. Syn.—Ib. Birds Am. IV, 1842, 130, pl. ccxxxvi.—Cassin.—Max. Cab. Jour. VI, 1858, 190 (Upper Missouri).—Jones, Nat. Bermuda, 1857, 51 (Bermuda).—Dresser & Sharpe, P. Z. S. 1870, 590. Collyrio borealis, Baird, Birds N. Am. 1858, 324.—Cooper & Suckley, P. R. Rep. XII, II, 1860, 188 (Washington Territory).—Dall & Bannister, 280 (Alaska).—Samuels, Birds N. Eng. 268. Collurio borealis, Baird, Rev. Am. B. 1864, 440. Lanius excubitor, Forster, Phil. Trans. LXII, 1772, 382 (not of Linnæus).—Wilson, I, 1808, 74, pl. v, fig. 1. Lanius septentrionalis, Bon. Syn. 1828, 72 (not of Gmelin, which cannot be identified as an American species).—Cooper, Orn. Cal. 1, 1870, 137.—Cassin, Pr. A. N. Sc. 1857, 213.—Murray, ed. New Phil. Jour. XI, 1859, 223 (H. B. T.).
Hab. Whole of America north of United States; in winter south to Washington, St. Louis, Prescott (Arizona), and North California; Bermuda (winter, Jones).
Collyrio excubitoroides.
The description of this and the succeeding species will be found on page 413. In winter, the colors, especially of the immature birds, are quite different from those described. The plumage of the adult, in winter, differs from that of spring as follows: the lores and nasal tufts are whitish, instead of pure, sharply defined black, with, however, some of the hair-like fibres blackish. The ash above is a little less clear, the white beneath less pure; the under mandible whitish at the base. An immature bird, in winter, has the ash above overlaid by a wash of reddish-brown, producing a prevailing uniform light-brown tint; the black on side of head is reduced to an obsolete patch on the ear-coverts. The dull white beneath is everywhere—sometimes even on the lower tail-coverts—covered with numerous bars of dusky, more sharply defined, and darker than in the adult.
Eastern specimens appear to have as much white on the rump as Western ones.
Habits. In the breeding-season this species of Shrike is found in all North America north of the United States, and is said to breed also within our territory, in mountainous districts. Such, at least, is the statement of Mr. Audubon, and Wilson leaves us to infer the same thing by giving a minute description of its nest and eggs. But Audubon may have confounded this species with the excubitoroides, and Wilson, apparently believing our species and the excubitor of Europe to be identical, may have had the nest and eggs of the European bird in view in his description. We know of a single recent instance in which this bird has bred within the limits of the United States, though it may breed in Northern and Eastern Maine. Mr. Boardman spoke of it as common only in winter, near Calais, but he has since met with its nest in New Brunswick, within twelve miles of St. Stephen. It was supposed by his informant to be the nest of the Canada Jay, but proved, on shooting the parent, to be that of the Northern Shrike. When found, it contained four eggs, but these had hatched out before it was secured. The nest was found on the last of April, and was built in a low spruce-tree. Mr. Boardman has since seen these birds in his neighborhood during the summer. Professor Verrill thinks it is only common in the autumn and winter in Western Maine. In Western Massachusetts, Mr. Allen cites it as not very common, but a regular winter visitant, from the last of October to the middle of April.
Mr. Ridgway met with it frequently in the neighborhood of Carson City during the winter, among the willows bordering the streams that flow from the mountains. Dr. Coues also found it as far south as Arizona, though Mr. Dresser did not meet with any in Texas, nor did Dr. Woodhouse notice any in his expedition to the Zuñi. Captain Feilner found this species common, in the colder months, in the northeastern portions of California, and Dr. Cooper gives it as abundant at the Columbia River in October.
Mr. Audubon further states that in severe winters he has met with it as far south as Natchez on the Mississippi. It is also not uncommon in Kentucky during the same season, but he never met with it near the seaboard.
Mr. Kennicott’s memoranda in reference to this species are to the effect that he observed one individual at Fort Simpson, September 23, and again October 22, but on no other occasion. Both of these specimens, when first observed, were singing. Their notes, he states, were low and irregular, but were varied and quite musical. Captain Blakiston found these birds winter residents on the Saskatchewan.
In the fall and winter of 1871, a pair of these birds was attracted to the Common, in Boston, by the large number of half-domesticated European Sparrows. For a while they made daily inroads upon these favorites, killing one or more for several days in succession. They appeared to keep themselves secreted most of the time, showing themselves each day early in the forenoon, and pouncing upon their victims, unaware of their near presence, in the manner of a Hawk, aiming always at the heads, which were torn off and devoured; generally the headless remains were left uneaten. In one instance where a Sparrow had been struck on the back, an ugly wound was made, the bird escaped alive, and was soon after seen, in the middle of Tremont Street, apparently not seriously injured. These Shrikes were so bold and destructive that pains had to be taken to watch for and shoot them. Three were killed, on different days, and each with a dead Sparrow in its claws, upon which it was feasting when shot.
Both Mr. Audubon and Mr. Nuttall refer to this Shrike’s imitating the cries of other birds, apparently to decoy them within its reach. The former has heard it utter cries like those of the Sparrow screaming in the claws of a Hawk, to induce them to come out of their coverts and rescue their suffering fellows, and has seen them dart suddenly into a thicket in pursuit of one, from which would soon issue the real cries of the bird it had seized. Nuttall states that in some parts of New England this Shrike is called a Mocking-Bird, on account of its imitations of the notes of smaller birds. Its more usual note resembles the discordant creaking of a signboard hinge. He also states that it has been known to mimic the quacking of ducks, so that these would answer to it as to a decoy. He heard one of these birds, as late as November 10, uttering a low and soft warble, resembling that of the Song Sparrow, immediately after changing it to the notes of the Catbird.
When in pursuit of small birds, it will dart down with closed wings, in the manner of a Hawk, and seldom fails to obtain the object of its pursuit, following it with rapidity and pertinacity through the thickets in which it seeks shelter. When it seizes its prey, it alights on its back, and tears open its head.
Its bold audacity and perseverance are quite remarkable, and are often displayed, in the fall, in the manner in which it will enter an apartment through an open window and attack a Canary, even in the presence of members of the family. It rarely fails, if it gains access to the cage, to destroy its inmate before the latter can be rescued by the intervention of those present, and only by great promptness in sheltering the cage. In one instance the writer was sitting at a closed window reading, with a Canary hanging above him. Suddenly there was a severe blow struck at the pane of glass near the cage, and the frightened Canary uttered cries of alarm and fell to the bottom of its cage. The cause was soon explained. A Shrike had dashed upon the bird, unconscious of the intervening glass, and was stretched upon the snow under the window, stunned by the blow. He revived when taken up, and lived several days, was sullen, but tame, and utterly devoid of fear. He refused raw meat, but eagerly tore in pieces and devoured small birds when given to him. His tameness and indifference to our presence may have been occasioned by stupor arising from his injury. In another case a Shrike made a similar attack, but escaped unharmed, and though he remained about the house several days, was too wary to allow himself to be decoyed within gunshot.
A nest of the Northern Shrike, containing six eggs, was obtained by R. R. McFarlane, at Anderson River Fort, June 11, 1863. This is in many respects in striking contrast with the nests of its kindred species of the Southern States, far exceeding them in its relative size, in elaborate finish and warmth. It is altogether a remarkable example of what are known as felted nests, where various materials are most elaborately worked together into a homogeneous and symmetrical whole. It is seven inches in diameter and three and a half in height. The cavity is proportionately large and deep, having a diameter of four and a half inches, and a depth of two. Except the base, which is composed of a few twigs and stalks of coarser plants, the nest is made entirely of warm and soft materials, most elaborately interworked together. These materials are feathers from various birds, fine down of the Eider and other ducks, fine mosses and lichens, slender stems, grasses, etc., and are skilfully and artistically wrought into a beautiful and symmetrical nest, strengthened by the interposition of a few slender twigs and stems without affecting the general felt-like character of the whole. The egg measures 1.10 inches by .80, and is of a light greenish ground, marbled and streaked with blotches of obscure-purple, clay-color, and rufous-brown.
Sir John Richardson found this a by no means uncommon bird in the woody districts, at least as far as the sixteenth parallel. On account of its resemblance to the Canada Jay, the Indians called it the “White Whiskey-John.” It remains all winter in the fur regions, but is much more numerous in summer. He states that the nest is built in the fork of a tree, of dry grass and lichens neatly intertwined, and lined with feathers.
Collurio ludovicianus, Baird.
SOUTHERN SHRIKE; LOGGERHEAD.
Lanius ludovicianus, Linn. Syst. Nat. 1766, 134 (based on Lanius ludovicianus, Brisson, II, 162, tab. xv, fig. 2).—Aud. Orn. Biog. I, 1831, 300, pl. xxxvii.—Ib. Birds Am. IV, pl. ccxxxvii.—Cassin, Pr. A. N. Sc. 1857, 213. Collyrio ludovicianus, Baird, Birds N. Am. 1858, 325. Collurio ludov. Baird, Rev. Am. B. 1864, 443. Lanius ardosiaceus, Vieillot, Ois. Am. Sept. I, 1807, 81, pl. li. Lanius carolinensis, Wils. Am. Orn. III, 1811, 57, pl. xxii, fig. 5.
Hab. South Atlantic (and Gulf?) States.
The young bird is quite different from the adult, differing as does that of excubitoroides, but the colors are all darker than in the corresponding age of that species.
Habits. This species, if we regard it as distinct from the excubitoroides, has apparently a very restricted distribution, being confined to the South Atlantic and Gulf States. I am not aware that it has been found farther north than North Carolina. It is not common, according to Audubon, either in Louisiana or Mississippi, and probably only occurs there in the winter. I have had its eggs from South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. Dresser speaks of this Shrike as common in Texas in summer, and Dr. Woodhouse states that he found it very abundant in Texas and the Indian Territory. These observations may probably apply to the kindred race, excubitoroides, and not to this form.
It is said to be exclusively a bird of the lowlands, and never to be met with in the mountainous parts, even of its restricted habitat.
Dr. Coues found this species very common in the neighborhood of Columbia, S. C., frequenting the wooded streets and waste fields of that city. On one occasion he observed a Loggerhead busily foraging for insects in the grounds of the Capitol. From the top of a tall bush it would occasionally sally out, capture a large grasshopper, and carry it to a tree near by, full of sharp twigs. It would then proceed to impale the insect on one of these points, remain awhile watching the result of its performance, and then resume its post on the bush, watching for more grasshoppers, some of which, one by one, it caught and impaled in like manner, others it ate on the spot.
This curious habit of impaling insects, more or less common to the entire family of Shrikes, seems to admit of no satisfactory explanation. In this case the bird thus secured them when apparently hungry, eating some and impaling others. Yet, so far as I know, it never makes any use of those it thus impales.
Mr. Audubon states that in South Carolina it is quite common along the fences and hedges about the rice plantations at all seasons, and that it renders good service to the planters in the destruction of field-mice, as well as of many of the larger insects. He speaks of its song as consisting only of shrill, clear, creaking, prolonged notes, resembling the grating of a rusty hinge. His account differs, in many respects, from the more minute and exact descriptions of Rev. Dr. Bachman. In pursuing its prey, he states that it invariably strikes it with its bill before seizing it with its claws.
In reference to its song, Dr. Bachman states that it has other notes besides the grating sound mentioned by Audubon. During the breeding-season, and nearly all the summer, the male bird posts itself at the top of some tree and makes an effort at a song, which he compares to the first attempts of a young Brown Thrush. This is a labored effort, and at times the notes are not unpleasing, but very irregular.
Dr. Bachman also claims that the male evinces marked evidences of attachment to his mate, carrying to her, every now and then, a grasshopper or a cricket, and driving away hawk or crow as they approach the nest.
He also states that he has usually found the nest on the outer limbs of trees, often from fifteen to thirty feet from the ground, and only once on a bush so low as ten feet from the ground. He has occasionally seen these birds feeding on mice, and also on birds that had been apparently wounded by the sportsman. It will sometimes catch young birds and devour them, but its food consists chiefly of grasshoppers, crickets, coleopterous and other insects, including butterflies and moths, which it will pursue and capture on the wing. Dr. Bachman has observed its habit of pinning insects on thorns. In one instance he saw it occupy itself for hours in sticking up, in this way, small fishes thrown on the shore, but he has never known them to devour anything thus impaled.
This Shrike is partially migratory in South Carolina, as a few may be found all winter, but only one tenth of those seen in summer. It is also very fond of the little changeable green lizard, which it pursues with great skill and activity, but not always with success.
It is said also to breed twice in a season. Dr. Bachman describes their eggs as white, and Mr. Audubon speaks of them as greenish-white. Neither make any reference to their spots.
All the nests that I have ever seen of this species, in the simplicity of their structure and in their lack of elaboration, are in remarkable contrast with the nests of both the borealis and the excubitoroides. They are flat, shallow structures, with a height of about two inches and a diameter of five. They are made externally of long soft strips of the inner bark of the basswood, strengthened on the sides with a few dry twigs, stems, and roots. Within, it is lined with fine grasses and stems of herbaceous plants.
The eggs, often six in number, are in length from 1.02 to 1.08 inches, and from .72 to .78 of an inch in breadth; their ground-color is a yellowish or clayey-white, blotched and marbled with dashes, more or less confluent, of obscure purple, light brown, and a purplish-gray. The spots are usually larger and more scattered than in the eggs of C. borealis, and the ground-color is a yellowish and not a bluish white, as in the eggs of C. excubitoroides.
Collurio ludovicianus, var. robustus, Baird.
WHITE-WINGED SHRIKE.
?? Lanius elegans, Sw. F. B. A. II, 1831, 122.—Nuttall, Man. I, 1840, 287.—Cassin, Pr. A. N. Sc. 1857, 213.—Baird, Birds N. Am. 1858, 327. Collyrio elegans, Baird, Birds N. Am. 1858, 328. Collurio elegans, Baird, Rev. Am. B. 1864, 444.—Cooper, Orn. Cal. 1, 1870, 140. (According to Dresser & Sharpe, P. Z. S. 1870, 595, who have examined the type, the L. elegans of Swainson is the same as L. lahtora, Sykes, of Siberia.)
Hab. California?
The description already given is taken from a specimen in the collection of the Philadelphia Academy, labelled as having been collected in California by Dr. Gambel, and is very decidedly different from any of the recognized North American species. Of nearly the size of C. excubitoroides and ludovicianus, it has a bill even more powerful than that of C. borealis. In its unwaved under parts and uniform color of the entire upper surface, except scapulars, it differs from borealis and excubitoroides, and resembles ludovicianus. In the extension of white over the inner webs of the secondaries, it closely resembles C. excubitor. The great restriction of white at the base of the tail—the four central feathers being entirely black, and the bases of the others grayish-ashy—is quite peculiar to the species.
The specimen in the Philadelphia Academy we originally referred to the L. elegans of Swainson, alleged to have come from the fur countries, as although some appreciable differences presented themselves, especially in the coloration of the tail, these were considered as resulting from an imperfect description. Messrs. Sharpe and Dresser, however, as quoted above, show that Swainson’s type really belongs to L. lahtora, an Old World species. We therefore find it expedient to give a new name to the variety, having no reason to discredit the alleged locality of the specimen.
Collurio ludovicianus, var. excubitoroides, Baird.
WESTERN LOGGERHEAD; WHITE-RUMPED SHRIKE.
Lanius excubitoroides, Swainson, F. B. A. II, 1831, 115 (Saskatchewan).—Gambel, Pr. A. N. Sc. 1847, 200 (Cala.).—Cassin, Pr. A. N. Sc. 1857, 213.—Sclater, P. Z. S. 1864, 173 (City of Mexico). Collyrio excubitoroides, Baird, Birds N. Am. 1858, 327. Collurio excub. Baird, Rev. Am. B. 1864, 445.—Cooper, Orn. Cal. 1, 1870, 138. ? Lanius mexicanus, Brehm, Cab. Jour. II, 1854, 145.—Sclater, Catal. 1861, 46 (Mexico). Lanius ludovicianus, Max. Cab. Jour. 1858, 191 (Upper Missouri).—Dresser & Sharpe, P. Z. S. 1870, 595.
Hab. Western Province of North America, as far north as Oregon; Middle North America, to the Saskatchewan, and east to Wisconsin, Michigan, and Illinois; south to Orizaba and Oaxaca, and City of Mexico; Cape St. Lucas.
The precise boundaries between this species and C. ludovicianus are difficult of definition, as the transition is almost insensible.
The young bird is pale fulvous-ash above, everywhere with transverse crescentic bars of dusky. Two bands of mottled pale fulvous across wings, on tips of middle and greater coverts. Tail tipped with ochraceous, the white feathers tinged with the same. Breast and sides with obsolete bars of dusky. Black band on side of head rather obsolete.
In its extreme stage of coloration it differs from ludovicianus in paler and purer color; the ash of back lighter; the under parts brilliant white, not decidedly plumbeous on the sides as in the other, and without so great a tendency to the usual obsolete waved lines (noticed distinctly only in winter or immature birds); the axillars bluish-white, not plumbeous. The white of wings and tail is more extended; the hoary of forehead and whitish of scapulars more distinct. The bristles at base of bill somewhat involving the feathers are black, forming a narrow frontal line, not seen in the other. The most striking difference is in the rump and upper tail-coverts, which are always appreciably and abruptly lighter than the back, sometimes white or only faintly glossed with plumbeous; while in typical specimens of ludovicianus these feathers are scarcely lighter at all, and generally more or less varied with blackish spots at the end. The legs and tail are apparently longer, the latter less graduated. These differences are, however, most appreciable in specimens from the Middle and Western Provinces. Those from the Western States, east of the Missouri River, as far north as Wisconsin, are more intermediate between the two, although still nearest to the Rocky Mountain bird as described; the back darker, the rump and axillars more plumbeous, the sides more bluish. There is little doubt that the examination of series from the States along the Mississippi will show a still closer resemblance to typical C. ludovicianus, and that the gradation between the two extremes will be found to be continuous and unbroken. It therefore seems reasonable to consider them all as one species, varying with longitude and region according to the usual law,—the more western the lighter, with longer tail. The only alternative is to suppose that two species, originally distinct, have hybridized along the line of junction of their respective provinces, as is certainly sometimes the case. The approximation in many respects of coloration of the Shrikes of the Pacific coast to those of the South Atlantic States is not without its importance in the discussion of the subject. However it may be, it is necessary to retain the name of excubitoroides, as representing, whether as species or variety, a peculiar regional form, which must be kept distinctly in mind. The comparatively greater size of the bill in the Cape St. Lucas specimens is seen in other species from this locality (No. 26,438 of adjacent figure).
26438
13600
The intensity of the black front in this species varies considerably, being sometimes very distinct, and again entirely wanting. This may probably be a character of the breeding-season, the dulness of black anterior to the eye and the lighter color of the bill having a close relationship here, as in other species, to maturity, sex, and season.
Habits. This variety was first described from specimens obtained in the territory of the Hudson’s Bay Co. Richardson states that it was not found farther north than the fifty-fourth degree, and there only in the warm and sandy plain of the Saskatchewan. Its manners, he says, are precisely similar to those of the borealis, feeding chiefly on the grasshoppers, which were very numerous on the plains. Mr. Drummond found its nest in the beginning of June, in a bush of willows. It was built of the twigs of the Artemisia and dry grass, and lined with feathers. The eggs were six in number, of a pale yellowish-gray color, with many irregular and confluent spots of oil-green, mixed with a few of smoke-gray.
Mr. Ridgway met with it, in his Western explorations, in all localities, but most frequently among the Artemisia and in the meadow-tracts of the river valleys. It is also seen on all parts of the mountains, among the cedar groves, localities in which the ludovicianus is said never to be found.
Dr. Cooper describes this bird as abundant in all the plains-region of California, but not as far as the Columbia River. South of latitude 38°, they reside all the year. They were abundant about Fort Mohave all winter, and nested as early as the 19th of March in a thorn-bush. They had young early in April. At San Diego they nested later, about April 20. He speaks of their singing as an attempt at a song, the notes being harsh, like those of a Jay, but not imitative. They catch birds, but do so very rarely, depending upon grasshoppers and other insects.
The nests of the excubitoroides, so far as I have had any opportunity to examine them, always exhibit a very marked contrast, in the elaborateness of their structure, to any of the ludovicianus that have fallen under my notice. They resemble those of the borealis in their size and the felted nature of their walls, but are more coarsely and rudely put together. They have an external diameter of about eight inches, and a height of four. The cavity is also large and deep. These nests are always constructed with much artistic skill and pains. The base is usually a closely impacted mass of fine grasses, lichens, mosses, and leaves, intermingled with stout dry twigs. Upon this is wrought a strong fabric of fine wood-mosses, flaxen fibres of plants, leaves, grasses, fur of quadrupeds, and other substances. Intertwined with these are a sufficient number of slender twigs and stems of plants to give to the whole a remarkable strength and firmness. This is often still further strengthened by an external protection woven of stouter twigs and small ends of branches, stems, etc. The whole is then thoroughly and warmly lined with a soft matting of the fur of several kinds of small animals, vegetable down, and a few feathers.
The eggs, five or six in number, measure 1.00 by .73 of an inch, and strongly resemble those of both the borealis and the ludovicianus. Their ground-color is pale greenish-white, over which are marks and blotches, more or less confluent, of lilac, purplish-brown, and light umber.
Mr. Ridgway, who is familiar with this bird in Southern Illinois, informs me that in that section it is a resident species, being abundant during the summer and by no means rare in the winter. It is there, strangely enough, often called the Mocking-Bird, its similar appearance and fondness for the same locality leading some persons to confound these very different birds. In districts where the true Mimus is not common, young birds of this species are frequently taken from their nests and innocently sold to unsuspecting admirers of that highly appreciated songster.
This bird inhabits, almost exclusively, open situations, being particularly fond of waste fields where young honey-locusts (Gleditschia triacanthos) have grown up. Among their thorny branches its nests are almost utterly inaccessible, if beyond the reach of poles. In such localities this bird may often be seen perched in an upright position upon some thorn-bush, or a fence-stake, quietly watching for its prey, remaining nearly an hour at a time motionless except for an occasional movement of the head.
The flight of this bird, Mr. Ridgway adds, is quite peculiar, utterly unlike that of any other bird except the Oreoscoptes montanus, which it only slightly resembles. In leaving its perch it sinks nearly to the ground, describing a curve as it descends, and, passing but a few feet above the surface, ascends in the same manner to the object upon which it is next to light. The flight is performed in an undulating manner, the bird sustaining itself a short time by a rapid fluttering of the wings, and sinking as this motion is suspended. As it flies, the white patch on the wing, with the general appearance of its gray and white plumage, increases its resemblance to the Mocking-Bird.
Though very partial to thorn-trees (honey-locust), other trees having a thick foliage—as those canopied by a tangled mass of wild grapevines—are frequently occupied as nesting-places; while a pair frequently make their home in an apple-orchard, selecting the old untrimmed trees. The situation of the nest varies according to the character of the tree; if in a thorn-bush, it is placed next the trunk, encased within protecting bunches of thorns; but if in an apple-tree, it is situated, generally, near the extremity of a horizontal branch. The number of eggs is generally six, but Mr. Ridgway has several times found seven in one nest. No bird is more intrepid in the defence of its nest than the present one; at such times it loses, apparently, all fear, and becomes almost frenzied with anger, alighting so near that one might grasp it, were he quick enough, and with open mouth and spread wings and tail threatening the intruder, its attacks accompanied by a peculiar crackling noise, interrupted by a harsh, grating qua, qua, qua, slowly repeated, but emphatically uttered.
The habit peculiar to the Shrikes of impaling their victims Mr. Ridgway has observed frequently in this species; for this purpose the long and extremely sharp thorns of the honey-locust serve it admirably; and “spitted” upon them he has found shrews, mice, grasshoppers, spiders, and even a Chimney-Swallow (Chætura pelagica); and, in another instance, but upon the upright broken-off twig of a dead weed in a field, a large spider. He has also known this bird to dart at the cage of a Canary-Bird, and frighten the poor inmate so that it thrust its head between the wires, when it was immediately torn off by the powerful beak of the Butcher-Bird.
The young of this species becomes a very pleasing and extremely docile pet. Mr. Ridgway has known one which, though fully grown, with power of flight uninjured, and in possession of unrestrained freedom, came to its possessor at his call, and accompanied him through the fields, its attachment being rewarded by frequent “doses” of grasshoppers, caught for it. It had been fully feathered before taken from the nest. Unfortunately the vocal capabilities of this Shrike are not sufficient to allow its becoming a general favorite as a pet; for, although possessing considerable talent for mimicry, it imitates only the rudest sounds, while its own notes, consisting of a grating, sonorous qua and a peculiar creaking sound, each with several variations, are anything but delightful.