140 THE BIRDS OF YORKSHIRE. 



sequent examination, and comparison with skins in Mr. 

 Dresser's collection, proved that it cannot be referred to that 

 form, and that it is probably a melanism of L. excubitor, 

 and as such is a most interesting variety. 



The only vernacular appellation is the well-known one 

 of Butcher Bird. 



LESSER GREY SHRIKE. 



Lanius minor (y. F. Gmelin). 



Accidental visitant, of very rare occurrence. 



The Lesser Grey Shrike is a summer visitor to southern 

 and central Europe, wintering in South Africa, and is but 

 a rare accidental straggler to the British Isles, the instances 

 of its occurrence, as previously chronicled, being eight in 

 number and all confined to the southern or south-eastern 

 counties of England. 



Mr. Thomas Stephenson of Whitby reports a ninth 

 example, which is the first known for the North of England, 

 and a new species to Yorkshire. The individual in question 

 was shot at Sleights, near Whitby, on the 20th September 

 1905, and was forwarded to Mr. Stephenson for identification 

 to Mr. W. Eagle Clarke, who pronounces it to be an immature 

 bird, in first plumage, and a most interesting addition to the 

 avi-fauna of the county (see Naturalist, March, 1906, p. 70). 



The specimen is now in the Whitby local museum. 



RED-BACKED SHRIKE. 

 Lanius collurio (Z ). 



Bird of passage, of rare occurrence ; has occasionally remained 

 to nest. 



Apparently the earliest local reference to the Red- 

 backed Shrike is contained in the second book of Willughby's 

 " Ornithology," 1678, where it is stated that in Yorkshire it 

 is called " Flusher." 



