Part 38

Washington, rare and irregular W.V., Oct.-Feb. Ossining, tolerably common W.V., Oct. 26-Apl. 17. Cambridge, common W.V., Nov. 1-Apl. 1. N. Ohio, not common W.V., Nov. 6-Apl. 3. Glen Ellyn, not common W.V., Oct. 24-June 5. SE. Minn., common W.V., Oct. 17-Mch. 28.

A grim, gray bird that comes out of the far North in the fall. His mission is death to birds and mice and he makes no attempt to disguise it but boldly advertises his presence by perching where he may be seen as well as see. Mice he can plunge on, but Sparrows, Siskins or Redpolls he may have to pursue on the wing, following every twist and turn until he reaches striking distance. Slowly he bears his victim, in his feet, to some tree there to hang it on thorn or in crotch from which it may be devoured at leisure. An executioner by birth, the Shrike or "Butcher Bird" evidently pursues his calling with no regrets and when spring time approaches adds his voice to the chorus of bird song.

LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE

Lanius ludovicianus ludovicianus. Case 4, Fig. 55

A gray bird with black wings and tail marked with white which shows in flight; smaller than the Northern Shrike with a black forehead and unmarked breast. L. 9.

Range. Florida north to North Carolina, west to Louisiana.

The Loggerhead has the general habits of his larger northern cousin the "Butcher-bird," but he feeds, as a rule, on smaller game. Grasshoppers and lizards form the larger part of his fare and the barbed wire fences not infrequently are his shambles. A flight is ended by an upward swing to the chosen perch which may be a tree-top, a telegraph wire, or lightning-rod tip. From such a lookout he keeps a sharp watch for his prey, which he detects at surprisingly long distances; meanwhile uttering the gurgles, squeaks and pipes which constitute his song. The nest is built in hedges or low trees in early March. The 3-5 eggs are dull white thickly marked with brown and lavender.

The Migrant Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus migrans) is a northern race of the Loggerhead from which it differs only in being somewhat paler above and grayer below. It is a Summer Resident from Kansas and western North Carolina to Minnesota and Maine and winters from the Middle States southward.

Generally speaking, it may be said that any Shrike found north of Maryland in the winter is a Northern Shrike; that any Shrike found north of Virginia in the summer is a Migrant Shrike, and that any Shrike found south of that state in the summer is a Loggerhead.

VIREOS. FAMILY VIREONIDÆ

BLACK-WHISKERED VIREO

Vireosylva calidris barbatula

Resembles the Red-eyed Vireo but has a dusky streak on each side of the throat.

Range. Cuba and Bahamas, north in spring to southern Florida.

This is a tropical species which reaches southern Florida early in May and returns to its winter home after nesting. In general habits and notes it resembles the Red-eye.

RED-EYED VIREO

Vireosylva olivasceus. Case 6, Fig. 66

An olive-green bird, silky white below, a white line, bordered by black over the red eye, a grayish cap and no white band on the wings. L. 6-1/4.

Range. Nests from the Gulf to Canada; winters in the tropics.

Washington, very common S.R., Apl. 21-Oct. 17. Ossining, common S.R., Apl. 29-Oct. 19. Cambridge, abundant S.R., May 10-Sept. 10. N. Ohio, abundant S.R., Apl. 27-Oct. 1. Glen Ellyn, common S.R., May 5-Oct. 5. SE. Minn., common S.R., May 5-Sept. 15.

A tireless soliloquist, the Red-eyed Vireo repeats from our shade and fruit trees in endless succession the broken phrases of his monotonous, rambling recitation. He sings all day and he sings throughout the summer, pausing only to sleep or to swallow the caterpillar he hunts while singing. Patient, persistent mediocrity is expressed by the Red-eye's song, and only his nasal, petulant call-note, whang, suggests that he is not altogether satisfied with life as he finds it.

The nest, like that of our other Vireos, is a deep cup hung from between a crotch from 5 to about 40 feet above the ground. The 3-4 eggs, which are laid in late May, are white spotted with reddish brown.

WARBLING VIREO

Vireosylva gilva gilva. Case 7, Fig. 29

Smaller than the Red-eye, without black and white lines over the brown eye, the underparts faintly tinged with yellowish. L. 5-3/4.

Range. Nests from Louisiana and North Carolina to Canada; winters in the tropics.

Washington, rather common S.R., Apl. 21-Sept. 12. Ossining, tolerably common S.R., May 3-Sept. 18. Cambridge, locally common S.R., May 5-Sept. 15. N. Ohio, abundant S.R., Apl. 17-Oct. 10. Glen Ellyn, not common S.R., May 1-Sept. 15. SE. Minn., common S.R., May 3-Sept. 15.

While the Red-eye's song lasts the greater part of the day, the Warbling Vireo's continues for only about four seconds, then, after an interval, it is repeated. It is an unbroken strain running up and down the middle of the scale and has it in a reminder of the Purple Finch's lay. This species is less generally distributed than the Red-eye. It may be common in one locality and absent from another. Its nesting habits and eggs are much like those of the Red-eye, but the male has the singular custom of singing while it sits upon the nest.