Part 55

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. I, 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).

[Line drawings: 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.

FAMILY CÆREBIDÆ.—THE CREEPERS.

As already stated on page 177, there is little to distinguish the _Cærebidæ_ from the _Sylvicolidæ_, except by the longer and more protracted tongue, and by the narrower gape in some of the forms. The genera _Certhiola_, _Cæreba_, _Diglossa_, etc., have peculiarities by which they are easily recognized; but when we come to such members as _Dacnis_, _Conirostrum_, etc., it becomes very difficult to separate them from the slender-billed Tanagers, the Wood Warblers, and the _Helminthophagas_.

Although the family is one widely distributed, in numerous genera, over Middle and South America, but one, _Certhiola_, belongs to North America, this being represented by a species, or rather a race, abundant in the Bahamas, and occasionally met with in the Florida Keys. We shall therefore give only the diagnosis of this family.

GENUS CERTHIOLA, SUNDEVALL.

_Certhiola_, SUNDEVALL, Vet. Akad. Handl. Stockholm, 1835, 99. (Type, _Certhia flaveola_, LINN.

[Line drawing: _Certhiola flaveola_, Sund.]

GEN. CHAR. Bill nearly as long as the head; as high as broad at base, elongated, conical, very acute, and gently decurved from base to tip. Culmen uniformly convex; gonys concave. No bristles at base of bill. Tail rounded, rather shorter than the wings. Tarsi longer than the middle toe. Iris brown? Nest pensile and arched. Eggs with yellowish ground dotted thickly with rufous spots.