LA NIID.^-SHRIKES. 



105 



species, the Lesser Grey Shrike (L. minor), which has on several 

 occasions been detected in Britain. 



Mr. C. H. B. Croxon, of Reddings, Tillingham, has an example, shot at the 

 Glebe Decoy, Bradwell, a few years back, and Mr. Robert Page, of Down Hall, 

 Bradwell, has another which was observed to fall from one of the bushes round his 

 decoy at Tillingham as though in a fit, early in January of the present year. 



[Southern Grey Shrike: Lanius meridionalis. 



Dr. Bree (34. 4721 & 29. Nov. 13) records a male, shot within a few 

 miles of Colchester during the first week of November, 1875. It had a 

 shrew in its stomach. This, he says, was the first British specimen. 

 He describes it fully, stating that it was \o\ in. in length, and had the 

 four central tail-feathers black, though one is slightly tipped with white. 

 It appears from Dr Bree's notes (32a) that it was " shot at Dedham 

 the last week in Oct., 1875." It is strange that Dr. Bree should not 

 have entered further particulars, as this species has never otherwise 

 been observed in Britain, either before or since, and the specimen would 

 therefore have been of great interest. As Dr. Bree (so far as I know) 

 never afterwards alluded to it in print, it seems probable that he subse- 

 quently discovered his identification of the specimen to be erroneous, 

 ■ though I am not aware that he ever corrected his record of it. I have 

 enquired carefully of Mrs. Bree and others without being able to ascer- 

 tain that the specimen still exists. It is impossible, therefore, to accept 

 the record as authentic] 



Redbacked Shrike : Latiius coUurio. Locally, " Butcher- 

 bird." 



A common summer visitor, usually arriving about the first week 

 in May, and departing again late in August. It varies considerably 

 in number in different 

 years, and it appears to 

 be decreasing with us. 



Mr. Joseph Clarke says, 

 in 1845, that this species 

 was " formerly not common 

 [round Saffron Walden] but 

 latterly more so " (24). 

 Henry Doubleday, in 183 1, 

 says (10) that it was then 

 very common in Epping 

 Forest, though, in the spring 

 of 1834, he notes it (10) as 

 " less abundant than usual." 

 Mr. Buxton says (47. 83) that 

 " they breed in the neigh- 

 bourhood [of Epping Forest] 

 frequently, if not every 

 year." King describes it 

 (20) as " common " round 

 Sudbury. In the Birdbrook 

 district it is common, but 

 at Maldon somewhat rarer 

 (Fitch). Mr. Hope writes: red-backed shrike, male, %. 



