NOVITATES ZOOLOGICAE. 



Vol. IX. DECEMBER, 1902. No. 3. 



A REVIEW OF THE SPECIES OF SHRIKES OF THE 



GENUS LANIUS. 



y >'* By W. r,. OGILVIE-GRANT. 



(Plates XXIV.— XXVIIl.) 



THE Trustees of the British Mnsenm having instrncted me to preimre new 

 editions of the eighth and ninth volniues of the " Catahjgue of the Birds," 

 I have commenced by making a study of the species of the genus Lanius. The 

 Shrikes being a i)articular]y diflit-ult and obscnre grouji, it has been deemed wise 

 to publish a preliminary paper showing the conclusions arrived at, so as to invite 

 the criticism of other ornithologists who may have paid special attention to these 

 birds. In this way it is hoped any mistakes in the present paper may be corrected 

 before the work appear.s in the new edition of the eighth volume. 



Before [uiblishing this review I have devoted much time to making a 

 careful study of each species, and examined a very large amount of material, 

 inclnding the types of many of the species that have been described. 



In most of the species the series of specimens in the British Museum collection 

 is large and complete; but in some instances where onr resources failed 1 am 

 indebted to the kindness of various friends and correspondents, who have lent me 

 all the birds that I required to comjilete my examination. 



I have to retnrn my special thanks to Dr. Bianchi, Professor Robert Oollett, 

 Dr. H. 0. Forbes, Mr. E. J. 0. Hartert, Mr. W. E. Hoyle, Mr. Oscar Neumann, 

 Dr. Reichenow, Hon. Walter Rothschild, and Mr. Joseph I. S. Whitaker. 



Through Mr. Rothschild's kindness I have been able to illustrate, by means 

 of black-and-white drawings, the pattern in the wings and tail of the Grey Shrikes, 

 and thus greatly facilitate their identitication. 



As in tlie eighth volume of the " Catalogue of the Birds," the genus Lanius 

 here includes the sections known as Fisctis, EiineoctoiiHS, Phoneus, and Otomela. 



KEY TO THE SPECIES OF LANIUS. 



A. Scapulars white or iiartially white, forming a white band. 

 a}. Basal part of primary ([iiills white. 



a'. Urown and back uniform grey ; upper tail-coverts grey or white. 



a?. Outer secondary quills mostly black, or with the inner wel) 



partially or wholly white ; never any white at the base of 



the outer web ; all the secondary quills tijiped with white. 



'(■'■ Runi)) always whitish, contrasting with the back ; chest 



and breast with narrow concentric dusky bands. iorcalis J ? 



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