— 26 — 



Length 10 inches. Above pearl grey. Ear coverts black. 



Wings black, with a white bar ; tail black and white ; under 



parts pure white. Young birds in first plumage are fawn- 

 coloured instead of grey. 



122. Pale-billed Grey Shrike. Lanius excubitor fallidirostris 



Cassin. 



Not mentioned by Shelley. 

 A few visit Upper Egypt during winter and early spring. 

 Similar to aforementioned, but duller. Washed with 

 brown above and with rosy brown below, and with a pale brown 

 instead of a black bill. 



123. Lesser Grey Shrike. Lanius minor Gmelin. 



Lanius minor. Shelley, p. 115. 



Abundant, especially along the northern coast, during the 

 autumn migration. More rare in spring. 



Smaller than the last mentioned. Forehead and ear coverts 

 black ; upper parts pearl grey ; under parts white, washed with 

 pink ; a white bar on wing. 



Female duller, and the forehead paler. Young birds have 

 crescent-shaped blackish markings on body plumage and lack 

 the black forehead. 



124. Red-backed Shrike. Lanius collurio Linnaeus. 



Lanius collurio. Shelley, p. 117. 



Visits Lower Egypt in countless numbers during the autumn 

 migration. I have never seen it in spring. The first arrivals 

 are invariably adult males. 



Length about 7 inches. Crown, nape, and rump grey ; a 

 black streak through eye. Upper back chestnut ; under parts 

 pinkish white. Female brown above ; greyish white barred 

 with black below. 



125. Woodchat Shrike. Lanius senator senator Linnaeus. 



Lanius auriculatus. Shelley, p. 117. 



Very abundant in spring, though less so during the return 

 passage in autumn. 



Length about 7 inches. Crown and nape chestnut red ; 

 back glossy black ; under parts white ; flanks pale chestnut. 

 White bar on wings and white bases to all but the central pair 

 of tail feathers. Female duller in coloration. 



