Shrike SONG-BIRDS.

not a single White-eyed Vireo was found among them. It is at times noisily talkative, and prefers the tangle to the tree-tops, managing, however, to give great expression to its simple song; sometimes scolding and arguing, and then dropping voice, as if talking to itself.

Without having the imitative and ventriloquistie powers of the Chat, you cannot fail to be reminded of that exasper- ating gamin When the VVhite-eyed Vireo, ambushed in some blackberry tangle and trembling for the safety of his nest, undertakes to give you a piece of his mind.

FAMILY LANIIDE: SHRIKES. Northern Shrike: Lanius bureaus. Butcher-bird.

PLATE 21.

Length: 9—10.60 inches.

Male and Female : Powerful head, neck, and blackish beak with hooked point. Above bluish ash, lighter on the rump and shoulders. Wide black bar on each side of head from the eye backward. Below light gray with a brownish cast, broken on breast and sides by waved lines of darker gray. Wings and tail black, edged and tipped with white. Large white spot on wings, white tips and edges to outer quills of tail. Legs bluish black.

Song : A call note, and in its breeding-haunts a. sweet, warbling song.

Season: A roving Winter resident; seen from November to April.

Breeds: North of the United States.

Nest : In a low bush ; a basis of sticks. upon which is matted and felted a thick, warm superstructure of bark-strip, grass, and soft vege- table substance. (Cones)

Eggs: 4—6; marblings of reddish brown and purple covering the gray- green ground.

Range: Northern North America, south in winter to the middle por- tions of the United States (Washington, D. 0., Kentucky, Kansas, Colorado, Arizona, northern California).

The Northern Shrike, though somewhat irregular in its comings and goings, is always present in varying numbers as a winter resident. In common with all winter birds, its

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