Family LANIIDAE. 

 (Plates 8, 9 and 10). 



In this Family Lanius excubltor while deviating by a coarser text- 

 ure of shell and fuller markings from the two other species which 

 come into consideration here, shows an approach to the family 

 Corvidae; the excubitor-egg reminds one more particularly of one 

 of the p/ca-types. 



Lanius collurio and Lanius senator are oologically nearly allied; 

 no general specific distinguishing characteristic is known; however, 

 taken as a whole, it can be said that of senator the type of egg 

 with a greenish ground colour is predominant; the eggs are usually 

 spotted more coarsely and are slightly larger; while, finally, erythrism 

 (the occurrence of a reddish ground colour with spots in a darker 

 shade of the same colour) seems to occur much more rarely than 

 with collurio. 



It has never yet been ascertained with absolute certainty that the 

 age of the cullorio female birds is of influence on the colour of the 

 egg shells, which is alleged to pass gradually from greenish to 

 reddish ; and the most recent statements of Dr. Rey on this subject 

 do not strengthen this suspicion. Indeed, the said oologist established, 

 in 1908, the fact of a one year old female bird sitting on eggs which 



