63 BIRDS. PASSERES. Lanius. 



ward. Nostrils tubular. Bill with stiff hairs at the base. 

 Middle claw serrated. The second quill longest. 



38. C. Europeus. European Goatsucker. — Plumage ash-co- 

 loured, much freckled with black, white, and brown. 



Will. Orn. 70. Penn. Brit, Zool. i. 416. Temm. Orn. i. 436 E, Night 



Hawk, Dor-hawk, Fern Owl, Church Owl, Night Garr, Wheel Bird, 

 Goat Owl. — A summer visitant. Near woods. 



Length about 10 inches; weight 3 ounces. Bill weak, black. Legs scaly, 

 feathered below the knee. Eyes large. Irides dusky. A large white oval 

 spot on the inner web of the three first quills, and at the end of the two la- 

 teral tail feathers of the male only. Makes no nest, but lays its two eggs, which 

 are white, marbled with brown, on the ground among fern or grass. Feeds 

 on moths and beetles. Visits this country in May and departs in August. 

 Makes a singular noise, like a spinning-wheel ; hence called in Wales Aderyn- 

 y-droell, or the Wheel Bird. It has long been charged with sucking the teats 

 of goats, an operation for which it is disqualified by the form of its bill. 



Gen. XXII. LANIUS. Shrike.— Toes entirely divided. 

 Tarsus longer than the middle toe. The third and fourth 

 quills the longest. Bill with strong hairs pointing for- 

 wards. 



39. L. Excubitor. Cinereous Shrike. — Head, neck and 

 back cinereous, with a black band under the eyes. 



Lanius Merrefs Pin. 170 Lan. cin. major, Will. Orn. 53.— L. Ex. Linn. 



Syst. i. 135 Great Shrike, Penn. Brit. Zool. i. 213. — L. Ex. Terrim. 



Orn. i. 142. ; E> Wierangel, Mattagasse ; W, Cigydd mawr — Inhabits 



woods. 

 Length 10, breadth 14 inches ; weight above 2 ounces. Bill and legs black. 

 The black band of the eyes reaches the ear covers. Plumage, beneath, white. 

 Wings black ; the roots of the primaries and tips of the secondaries white. 

 Two middle tail-feathers black, the two lateral ones white. The female chief- 

 ly differs in the dingy colour of her white beneath, with her feathers marked 

 with brown crescents. Nest in bushes. Eggs 6 or 7; white, with brown spots. 

 Young like the female. The food consists of mice, small birds^ and reptiles, 

 which are sometimes stuck on a thorn, and pulled to pieces before being de- 

 voured It remains to be determined whether this species breeds in Britain. 



It is occasionally found in the beginning of Winter. 



40. L. Collurio. Red-backed Shrike. — The back, scapulars, 

 and wing covers, ferruginous. 



L. tertius, Will. Orn. 54 — L. Col. Linn. Syst. i. 136. Perm. Brit. Zool. 



i. 215. Temm. Orn. i. 147 — E, Flusher; W, Agydd celh-goch — A 



summer visitant of England. 

 Length 7, breadth 12 inches; weight about 2 ounces. Bill and legs black. 

 Forehead, through the eyes to the ears, black. Head, neck, and rump grey. 

 Wings dusky, slightly edged with brown. Plumage, beneath, rose-coloured, 

 inclining to white on the throat and vent. The two middle tail-feathers 

 black, the others two-thirds white, then black, slightly tipped with white. In 

 the female the plumage has more red above and white beneath. The 4 mid- 

 dle tail-feathers brown. Builds, in hedges, a nest of moss lined with hair. 

 Egg3 5 or 6, variable in colour. Young like the female. Its principal food is 



