GREAT GREY SHRIKE 129 



The following observations of this species are given 

 by Mr. H. J. Harding, of Deal, in the Zoologist, 1871 : 

 "It is not often one can get near enough to the Great 

 Grey Shrike (Lanius excuhitor) to observe the strange 

 way in vv^hich it strikes its prey. On a fine day in the 

 early part of November, having three Linnets and a 

 EedpoU in cages, I put them out in the garden on the 

 ground. About ten in the morning I came out of the 

 cottage to see if the birds were all right, when I ob- 

 served a strange-looking bird cutting some queer gambols 

 among my cages. At first sight I took it for a Jay, but 

 soon discovered it was a specimen of the Great Grey 

 Shrike. I got within about eight yards of him, when 

 he flew over the hedge with something in his beak. I 

 waited a little while to see if he would return, which 

 he did in about ten minutes ; he immediately made up 

 to a Linnet's cage and began springing up about a yard 

 high and dropping again, with his claws distended, on 

 the cage. This performance he repeated several times. 

 I thought he meant no good to my Linnet, so drove 

 him away, but he soon renewed his attack on another 

 cage. I was now within six yards of him, so I tried 

 to take him with a net ; but he was not to be had, 

 and flew over the hedge. But what did I behold ! My 

 poor KedpoU hanging in the cage without his head. It 

 was this that he flew over the hedge with when I first 

 observed him. In about two hours after this he again 

 returned and played the same antics as before. I again 

 tried to take him, but he was too wide awake, and flew 

 up, to return no more." 



In the Kentish Collection in the Maidstone Museum 

 there is a pair which were obtained at Boughton Mon- 

 chelsea, presented by Mr. R. J. Balston ; a male obtained 

 9 



