236 



Konig gives the average size of 23 N. African eggg as 23.74 X 17.17 

 mm., weight 207 mg. 



b. Sardinian Woodcliat, L. senator Radius Hartl. 



L. senator hadius Hartl. Hartert, Yog. Pal. Fauna, p. 437. 

 Breeding Range: Corsica and Sardinia. 



An abundant summer visitor to the low lying districts of these 

 islands, nesting generally in the cork trees at 8 to 20 ft., during the last 

 days of May and early in June. 



Nest built of lichens, flowering grass heads, roots and a few twigs : 

 lined with fibres and a few feathers. The hen sits very closely. White- 

 head found one clutch of salmon coloui-ed eggs out of about 20 nests 

 examined. The 5 — 6 eggs are rather large: 31 measured by the writer 

 average 23.66x17.46 mm.. Max. 26x17.5 and 22.2x18.2, Min. 

 22.2 X 18.2 and 22.3 X 16.6. 



[Palestine and S. Persia are inhabited by another race, L. seyiator 

 niloticus (Bp.), the eggs of which are figured in the Ibis, 1905, pi. XI, 

 hg. 4, 7.] " 



106. Masked Shrike, Lanius nubicus Licht. 

 Plate 62, fig. 1 (Smyrna, 1. V. 06). 

 Eggs: Baedeker, Tab. 52, fig. 7. Dresser, pi. — , fig. 26—28, 31. 

 Lanius nubicus Licht. Dresser, Birds of Europe, 111, p. 417; id. Man. 

 Pal. Birds, p. 247. Hartert, Vog. Pal. Fauna, p. 438. 



Breeding Range: Formerly in Greece, but now extinct there. 

 [Also Asia Minor, Cyprus, Palestine and S. W. Persia.] 



Formerly this species appears to have been a regular summer visitor 

 to the country near Athens, but according to Reiser there is no definite 

 record of its breeding since 1864. It is included in the British list, 

 an adult male having been obtained in Kent on July 11, 1905. [It is 

 plentiful in Asia Minor, and is the commonest Shrike near Smyrna. 

 Guillemard found it breeding on the northern side of Cyprus, and it is 

 also not uncommon in the wooded parts of Palestine and in the oak 

 woods of Fars, in S. W". Persia.] 



The nest is very neatly and strongly built, and often has frag- 

 ments of rag, thread, etc. woven into the exterior, while the interior is 

 lined with fine roots or fibres. It is only about half the size of an 

 average nest of L. minor or L. senator. Selous describes the nest as 

 usually built in an olive tree, 8 — 10 ft. above the ground, on a thick 

 branch, in the same situation that a Mistle Thrush's nest might occupy. 

 Kriiper however frequently found nests half covered by pendant foliage 

 on an upright bough in olives, pomegranates etc. The parent birds are 

 much shyer and more retiring in their habits than most Shrikes. 



