The Great Grey Shrike 169 



THE GREAT GREY SHRIKE (LANIUS 

 EXGUBITOR). 



THE shrikes are generally of a size and form ex- 

 hibiting a moderate degree of strength, and 

 strongly show indications of raptorial disposition, 

 especially in the strong and toothed form of the bill ; 

 and in many of the species, the centre feathers of the tail 

 being longest, an elegance and lightness to their shape 

 and figure is imparted, at variance with the powerful 

 form necessary for contest. 



The Common Grey Shrike is perfectly typical in its 

 form, and will rank among the larger species of the genus. 

 In length it is about nine inches, appearing more graceful 

 from the graduated form of the tail, though it is in reality 

 a firmly and compactly made bird. 



In the old male the upper parts are of a chaste and clear 

 pearl-grey, while the whole of the under parts are pure 

 whites ; these tints are beautifully broken, and contrasted 

 by the deep black of the greater portion of the wings and 

 tail, and by the marking of the same colour which appears 

 on the forehead, the lores, and on the auriculars ; on the 

 latter there is an oval patch resembling in form and 

 situation tne distribution of the darker shades on these 

 parts of the falconidee. 



The wings have the base of the primaries white, forming 

 a triangular mark on these parts, and the exterior tail 

 feathers, with the tips of all the rest, except the two in the 

 centre, the space widening to the outside, are of the same 

 pure tint. The female has the colours in general duller, 

 and the breast is undulated with narrow dusky transverse 

 bars. 



The bird is only an occasional visitant to the British 

 Isles, and that even of rare occurrence, except in some of 

 the southern and midland counties of England. Towards 

 the north and on the confines of the border, it becomes 

 less frequent ; in the South of Scotland it is a rare bird, 

 a few instances only of its capture having been noted, 



