326 SIIRIKES. 
     
    
   
   
    
     \\'., 3-52; '1‘.. :i-s’r; B. from N. ‘48; depth of B. at N., ‘35 (average of nine 
     
     Florida specimcnsl. 
     
    

    
     li'vm(irksuvSpecimens from the Miss sippi Valley, western Pennsylvania, 
     
     New York. and northern New England average lighter in color and have. as 
     
     a rule. smaller bills than specimens from the south Atlantic States. They 
     
     are thus intermediate betwu-n [mint-iridium and c.1'culu'toridcs, but the differ— 
     
     ences between them are too slight and ineenstant to warrant me in including 
     
     (areillu'tom’tlivs on the basis of specimens which are quite as near ludovz’cia/zus 
     
     as they are to typical examples of the western form. 
     
    

    
     [I’llll‘I/(a—EHSKL‘I'II North America west to the edge of the plains; breeds, 
     
     cast of the Alleghanies, as far north as Virginia; west of the Alleghanies 
     
     breeds nortlnrard to the Great Lakes and eastward through central New 
     
     York to Vermont and Maine. 
     
    

    
     Washington. rare W. \'., Aug. 11 to Apl. 6. Sing Sing, A. V. Cam- 
     
     bridge, rare in tall and winter. 
     
    

    
     Host, of strips of bark, small twigs, and vegetable fibers, lined with 
     
     grasses, in thorny hedges or low trees. about. seven feet up. Eggs, three to 
     
     five, dull white or creamy white, thickly marked with cinnamon—brown and 
     
     lavender, "J6 x ‘78. 
     
    

    
     Like some of the Hawks and Flycatchers, the Loggerhead does 
     
     not search for his prey, but waits for it to come within striking dis- 
     
     tance. It is of importance, therefore, that his perch should command 
     
     an uninterrupted view of his surroundings. For this reason one 
     
     rarely or never sees a Shrike in, a tree. but. always on its outermost 01‘ 
     
     highest branches. He will fly directly toward its center, but; just as 
     
     he reaches it swing up and light on its top. He also selects telegraph 
     
     wires, peaks of houses. and especially the apex of a lightning rod or 
     
     weather vane. 
     
    

    
     From his point of vantage he maintains a constant outlook for any 
     
     unsuspecting grassliomier. small snake, or lizard which may appear 
     
     below. The distance at which he can detect these gives evidence of 
     
     his power of sight. I have seen Shrikes fly fifty yards with the evi— 
     
     dent object of capturing a grasshopper which they undoubtedly saw 
     
     before starting. 
     
    

    
     Like the Butcher—bird. the Loggerhead frequently impales its prey 
     
     on a convenient thorn or spike. Douhtless this habit aids him in dis- 
     
     secting his food. but ldo not think that he does it forthis reason alone. 
     
     The birds vigilance, like that of the. waiting Hawk, is probably at,- 
     
     tended by varying results. One hour may yield excellent returns, the 
     
     next may he fruitless. But under any circumstances he can not resist 
     
     takingr advantage of an opportunity to secure fond. Sometimes the 
     
     opportunities exceed the demands of his stomach, and then, after cap- 
     
     turing his unfortunate victim, he simply impales and leaves it. 
     
    

    
     If perseverance deserved success. the Loggerhead would take high 
     
     rank as a songster. But his notes are harsh and unmusieal. They