NON-INDIGENOUS BRITISH BIRDS. 55 



chiefly on the larger end. The rufous type of egg does 

 not appear to occur in this species. Average measure- 

 ment, '98 inch in length by 77 inch in breadth. 

 Incubation, performed almost entirely by the female, 

 lasts from fifteen to sixteen days. 



Diagnostic characters : The green ground colour 

 of the eggs of the Lesser Gray Shrike readily dis- 

 tinguishes them from those of allied species, more 

 especially when combined with size. 



Family LANIID.^. Genus Lanius. 



GREAT GRAY SHRIKE. 



Lanius excubitor, Li?inceus. 



(British : Uncommon autumn migrant.) 



Single Erooded. Laying season, latter half of May and 

 in June. 



Breeding area : Western Palaearctic region. The 

 Great Gray Shrike breeds from about lat. 70° in 

 Scandinavia, and in Russia as far east as the Urals, 

 southwards through Denmark, Holland, Belgium, 

 Germany, France, and various parts of Central Europe. 

 Owing to interbreeding with sub-specific forms, it is dififi- 

 cult to define the exact area occupied by this species. 



Breeding habits : The Great Gray Shrike is very 

 partial to exposed haunts during the non-breeding 

 season, and renders itself conspicuous enough, like all 

 birds of its kind, by sitting on the topmost twigs of 

 bushes and low trees ; but when the nesting period 

 arrives it shows a preference for more sheltered localities. 

 Its favourite breeding haunts are in plantations and the 



