LANIUS POMEEANUS 175 



Iris browu ; bill and feet dark brown. 

 Total length 7 inches, wing 3-90, culmen "60, tarsus 1. 

 Adult female resembles the male in marking, but is much paler 

 and duller. 



The Woodchat- Shrike occurs abundantly throughout Tunisia as a 

 summer migrant, the first arrivals being generally seen early in April. 

 Many pairs remain and breed in the Kegency, chiefly north of the 

 Atlas, but these birds, together with their young broods, according to 

 Blanc, disappear early in the summer. In Algeria and Marocco the 

 Woodchat is common, and in the latter country it appears to nest in 

 districts as far south as 82° N. lat., from whence I have numerous 

 examples of young birds, obtained in May and June. 



In Tripoli the species is also abundant as a summer migrant, and 

 it doubtless breeds in that country, being found there in May. In 

 many of its habits the Woodchat resembles other members of the 

 family, but it differs greatly from the Grey Shrikes in being far less 

 shy and wary. Owing to its fearlessness, and to its conspicuous 

 plumage, the poor bird often falls a victim to the gun of the young 

 collector, as it perches unsuspectingly in full view on some bare branch 

 or bush-top. Besides being bold and fearless, it seems also to be 

 rather an inquisitive bird, and this, too, is often the cause of its coming 

 to an untimely end. In some of the Tunisian oases numbers of these 

 Shrikes are snared, together with other birds, by the Arab boys when 

 the spring migration is at its height. The food of the Woodchat, like 

 that of other Shrikes, consists largely of coleoptera, grasshoppers 

 and other insects, although occasionally it no doubt preys also upon 

 the fledglings of small birds, and on very small mammals. Like its 

 allies, it keeps a larder, and is in the habit of impaling its spoil on 

 thorns. The note of this species is a harsh grating " hra," repeated 

 two or three times. The Woodchat commences nesting operations 

 in Tunisia soon after its arrival, and eggs of the species may be found 

 shortly after the middle of April. An olive-tree is a favourite site for 

 its nest, but thorny bushes, or indeed any bush or low tree may be 

 chosen for the purpose. The nest is most artistically built, being a 

 compact cup-shaped structure, composed of root-fibres and grasses, 

 with a goodly proportion of vegetable down and wool, and frequently 

 beautifully studded all over with the small dry flowers of some 

 composite plant, such as Evax pygmoea, Pers, The eggs, from four 



