The Oologisfs' Record, September i, 1922. 57 



in patches of brambles or thorny shrubs. Neither of these Shrikes 

 breeds in the coastal plain. I only came across a couple of nests, 

 and as each contained five eggs, I think that this may probably be 

 the normal set. They are late breeders. 



2.6. iS ... c '5 Inc. of a week 2300' -88 x -674. 

 • 13.6. 18 ... c/5 A few days 2400' -9325 x -705. 

 Average of 9 eggs = -906 x -689. 



Maximum length -95 x -72. Minimum length -83 x -65. 

 breadth -95 x -72. ,, breadth -83 x -65. 



These two sets vary so very considerably in size that it is worth 

 while giving the measurements of the eggs in detail : — - 



•83 X 

 •86^ X 

 •90 X 

 •91 X 

 •90 X 



65 1 -94 X -711 



65 I Average = -92 x -69 I Average = 



69 y -88 X -674 -95 X -72 J- -9325 X -705 



69 

 69 



•92 X -70 I 

 One broken J 



One nest made of rootlets and lined with wool and hair was 

 placed in a bramble-bush a few feet above the ground, and was well 

 concealed. The other was composed of dead grass, bents and root- 

 lets, thickly lined with horsehair. It was very skilfully hidden in a 

 bramble-bush growing against a rocky wall, and the nest was some- 

 what overhung. Young birds just able to fly were seen at the end 

 of June. 



There is not very much difference between the eggs of this species 

 and those of the Woodchat, but in size they seem to be a trifle 

 smaller. In colour one set was greenish-grey, heavily marked and 

 ringed at the larger end with various shades of brown on the surface, 

 and with shell spots of greenish gre}^ bluish grey, and purplish grey 

 The other was creamy white, the eggs being blotched and spotted on 

 the surface with umber brown and with shell markings of grey 

 brown. The eggs were hea\'ih' ringed, though rather low down, at 

 the larger end. If Shrikes' eggs are taken and the parent birds have 

 not been seen, there can be no doubt at all as to the ownership of 

 the eggs if the nests are taken or have been seen. The breeding 

 sites are almost as dissimilar as the nests themselves. 



