S8 FAUNA AND FLORA OF PALESTINE. 



FAMILY, LANIID.'E. 



92. Lanius aiichcri. Bp. Rev. et Mag. Zool., 1853, p. 294. 

 = \^. fallax. Finsch. Trans. Z. S., vii. 1872, p. 249, pi. xxv. The 

 Pallid Shrike. Arab, oj^j^^l, Aboit sc round ; ^jji, Booms. 



The non-ornithological observer would probably pronounce this great 

 Shrike to be the most common bird of the country. It certainly is every- 

 where e.xcept in the deserts and mountains, and at all times takes good 

 care to be seen, perched motionless on a bare bough, or on the top of a 

 tree, and placing its nest in the most conspicuous situations, but generally 

 well protected by the masses of thorns which encircle it and defy the 

 hawks. It is very confident and tame. In former writings I erroneously 

 identified it with the European Lanius c.xcubitor. The Palestine bird has 

 usually been identified with the Indian L. lahtora, which it resembles so 

 closely that only the most minute examination can detect the distinctions. 

 These, however, appear to be permanent. 



Mr. Dresser, in his ' Birds of Europe,' identified the Palestine and 

 Indian birds, but Dr. Gadow, in the ' Catalogue of Birds, British Museum,' 

 vol. viii., has by various subtle discriminations nearly doubled the number 

 of species of this genus. I therefore, merely for convenience, distinguish 

 my Palestine friend as separated from its congeners, only giving it Bona- 

 parte's name, which claims priority over Finsch's. Thus restricted, 

 L. aiicheri has not a very wide range, being found in Abyssinia, Nubia, 

 Palestine, Persia, and Baluchistan. 



93. Lanius minor. Gm. Syst. Nat. i., p. 30S. Lesser Grey Shrike. 

 This bird seems uncertain in its visits. In 1S58 it was almost the 



first bird I shot on the plain of Sharon, where it was common. In 1S63, 

 1864, and 1872 I never saw it, while in iSSi it was very common, and 

 breeding as late as June, while the Pallid Shrike had hatched in March. 



The Lesser Grey Shrike inhabits in summer South-eastern Eurojje 

 and South-western Asia, not going further east than Persia, and in winter 

 it retires to Eastern Africa, and reaches even to Damara-land. 



94. Lanius collurio. Linn. Syst. Nat. i., p. 136. Red-backed Shrike. 



The Red-backed Shrike returns to the northern mountain regions about 

 the end of April in vast numbers, and immediately begins to build. I 

 have not observed it south of Esdraelon. 



