46 BIRDS OF SOMERSETSHIRE. 
GreAT Grey Surixe, Lanius excubitor. The 
Great Grey Shrike is a rare species, especially in 
this county, only two Somersetshire specimens 
having come under my notice: the first of these 
was killed on the Nynchead estates, and its capture 
was recorded by the Rev. Murray A. Mathew, in the 
* Zoologist’ for 1863: he says, “It was shot on the 
Nynehead estate in November, 1862, by a labourer, 
who gave it to his children to play with; afterwards, 
as it became rather stale, it was thrown away on the 
dung-hill, from whence it was rescued by Mr. San- 
ford’s keeper, luckily before it was too stale for 
preservation : it is now in the possession of Captain 
Sanford.” The other occurred near Wiveliscombe, 
on the 31st of March, 1864, and is recorded by my- 
self, in"the ‘ Zoologist’ for that year (p. 9048): itis 
a very fine specimen, and is now in the collection of 
Mr. Bidgood, the Curator of the Museum of the 
Taunton Archeological Society. 
This bird is generally an accidental winter visitant 
in England, most of the specimens having been taken 
from October to March inclusive: it has, however, 
occurred in a few instances in the summer months. 
The food of the Great Grey Shrike consists prin- 
cipally of mice, shrews, small birds,* frogs, lizards 
* The remains of a Blue Tit were found in the stomach 
of one of these birds (Zool. for 1865, p. 9455). The Blue 
Tit seems to be a favourite food, as there are two other notes 
in the ‘ Zoologist’ of its being seen feeding on it. 
