142 LESSER GREY SHRIKE. 



Minor and Palestine, where it frequents the outskirts of cultiva- 

 tion on the lower ground ; but does not ascend to the elevated 

 regions. In all the above countries it is only known in summer or 

 on migration ; and its winter quarters appear to be in Africa, where 

 it goes as far south as Damaraland on the west, and the Orange 

 Free State on the east. In Asia it is found from Persia to Omsk in 

 57° N. lat, and eastward, to Lake Zaisan in long. 84°. It arrives 

 in Germany between April 24th and May 7th ; remaining till 

 between August i8th and September loth (Rey) ; but in South- 

 eastern Europe it stays until October. 



The nest, commenced about the middle of May, is generally 

 placed at least ten feet from the ground, in an oak, wild pear or 

 crab, and, in Greece, frequently in an olive-tree. It is composed 

 of twigs, dry roots, aromatic field-flowers and green grasses, with a 

 lining of wool, hair and feathers ; the eggs, 5-7 in number, are pale 

 bluish-green, blotched with olive-brown and ash-colour : average 

 measurements '98 by 77 in. Incubation, shared by both sexes, 

 lasts fifteen days, and during the breeding-season the birds are very 

 quarrelsome, driving even Crows and Magpies from the vicinity of 

 their nest. Like most Shrikes, this species is fond of perching on 

 the topmost branch of a tree or other elevated position, whence it 

 darts with rapidity upon its prey, sometimes gliding with extended 

 and unmoved wings for a short distance. Its food consists of beetles 

 and other insects, seldom impaled on thorns, but devoured while 

 held in the bird's foot : in the season, however, cherries, figs and 

 other fruits are eaten. The note is described by Naumann as a 

 harsh kjiick, kjiick, but the song of other birds is often imitated. 



Adult male : forehead, eye and ear-coverts black ; cheeks white ; 

 nape and back grey, rather paler on the rump ; wings black, slightly 

 tipped with white on the secondaries, and with white bases to the 

 primaries, forming a broad single bar ; central tail-feathers black ; in 

 the others the bases and tips are white, which gradually encroaches 

 upon the black until the outside pair are entirely white ; under 

 parts white, suffused with a rosy blush on the breast and flanks ; 

 bill, legs and feet blackish. Length 8*5 in. ; wing 4-6 in. The 

 female and immature male have less black on the forehead. The 

 young bird — the upper figure in the woodcut — has no black on the 

 forehead, and the under parts are dull yellowish-white, mottled with 

 grey transverse lines. This species may be distinguished from all 

 other Grey Shrikes by its wing formula; the ist or bastard primary 

 being very short, while the 2nd nearly equals the 3rd and longest 

 primary. 



