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Range (Eastern North America west)

Eastern North America west to the edge of the plains; breeds, east of the Alleghanies, as far north as Virginia; west of the Alleghanies breeds northward to the Great Lakes and eastward through central New York to Vermont and Maine.

Washington, rare W. V., Aug. 11 to Apl. 6. Sing Sing, A. V. Cambridge, rare in fall and winter. Nest, 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, 98 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 distance. 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 or 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 grasshopper, 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 evident 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. Doubtless this habit aids him in dissecting his food, but I do not think that he does it for this reason alone. The bird's vigilance, like that of the waiting Hawk, is probably attended by varying results. One hour may yield excellent returns, the next may be fruitless. But under any circumstances he can not resist taking advantage of an opportunity to secure food. Sometimes the opportunities exceed the demands of his stomach, and then, after capturing 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 unmusical. They VIREOS. consist of a series of guttural gurgles, squeaky whistles, and shrill pipes, some of which might be attributed to the creaking weather vanes he so often chooses as a perch.

FAMILY VIREONIDE.

VIREOS.

The Virecs, numbering about fifty species, are peculiar to America, most of them being confined to Central and South America. Some fifteen species, all belonging to the genus Vireo, reach the United States.

Vireos are for the most part arboreal, though several species haunt the lower, rather than the higher growth. For small, insect-eating birds they are rather slow in their movements. We do not see them darting out after insects as do the Flycatchers, nor do they flit through the foliage after the manner of many Warblers, but patiently glean their food from the under surfaces of leaves, crevices in the bark, etc. They are more musical than the small Warblers; all our species have pleasing songs, and some of them are especially gifted. KEY TO THE SPECIES.

A. With distinct white or yellowish white wing-bars. a. Eye-ring, or line from eye to bill, yellow. a¹. Throat and breast bright yellow; rump gray. 628. YELLOW-THROATED VIREO. a2. Under parts white or whitish; sides and sometimes breast washed with greenish yellow; rump olive-green. 631. WHITE-EYED VIREO. 631a. KEY WEST VIREO. b. Eye-ring and line from eye to bill white. 61. Head lead-blue; wing over 2.50. 629. BLUE-HEADED VIREO. 629a. MOUNTAIN VIREO. 62. Head grayish, nearly like back; wing under 2.50. B. Without white wing-bars. 633. BELL'S VIREO (Illinois). a. Under parts yellowish; first primary as long as fifth. 626. PHILADELPHIA VIREO. b. Under parts white; sides washed with yellowish; first primary 75 long. 627. WARBLING VIREO. c. Under parts white, with little if any yellowish on sides; head with a lead-gray cap, bordered by narrow black lines over the eye. 624. RED-EYED VIREO. 623. BLACK-WHISKERED VIREO. 623. Vireo calidris barbatulus (Cab.). BLACK-WHISKERED