239 



nests from the Continent and Corsica are much more slightly built and 

 contain no moss. Diameter of cup, 21 — 31 in., depth nearly 2 in. The 

 same locality is often resorted to year after year. 



Usually 5 — 6, sometimes only 4 and occasionally 7, while a clutch Eggs. 

 of 8 is said to have been found. They are very variable in colouring, 

 but may be classified according to the ground colour, which varies from 

 pure white to creamy, brownish, greenish, and pinkish. Exceptionally 

 sets have been met with bright greenish and deep reddish ground. The 

 three commonest types are the pink, green and cream, but the proportion 

 varies according to the locality. A clutch of white eggs taken by Major 

 Harington is entirely without markings, but as a rule the eggs are rather 

 sparingly spotted with some shade of brown or red, with underlying 

 blotches and spots of leaden grey, which often tend to form a zone. 

 Eggs with a pink or red ground have almost invariably warm sienna 

 brown or red spots, and those with a greenish ground are marked with 

 umber. The shape is usually rather a blunt, rounded oval, and the 

 texture fine, with slight gloss. 



Although a few pairs both on the Continent and in England begin Breeding 

 to lay about mid May, the majority have full clutches towards the end ^^'''""• 

 of May and early in June. Only one brood is reared, but if the eggs 

 are taken, the birds will lay again three or four times if necessary. The 

 breeding season in Greece and Corsica is apparently no earlier than in 

 Middle Europe, but on Mt. Hermon Tristram took full clutches on May 16. 



Rey gives the average size of 360 eggs as 22.1 X 16.4 mm., Max. Measure- 

 25 X 16 and 22.6 X 18.3, Min. 18.3 X 15 and 22.2 x 14. Average 

 weight 186 mg. The largest 'double' egg measured 26.5 X 19.3 (250 

 mg.) and the smallest dwarf 15.7 X 12 (80 mg.). Average weight of 

 22 full eggs, 3.239 g. (R. H. Read). 



Isabelline Shrike, Lanius eristatus isabellinas II. & E. 



Plate 24, fig. 9 (Kuldja). 



Eggs: Dresser, pi. — , fig. 6, 7. 

 Lanius isabellmus H. & E. Dresser, Birds of Europe, III, p. 413: Man. Pal. Birds, 

 p. 238 (part.) L. eristatus isahellinus H. & B. Hartert, Vog. Pal. Fauna, p. 444. 



Breeding Range: Steppes of Mongolia and S. Dauria to Dzungaria and E. 

 Turkestan. One specimen obtained on Helgoland, Oct. 26, 1854. 



In breeding habits it resembles its allies. Key gives the average of 9 e^rgs as 

 22.84X16.86 mm., Max. 24.5 X 17.3 and 23.9 X 17.6, Min. 21.3 X 16.9 and 22.2 X 16.1. 

 Eggs from the S. of the Issyk Kul, probably of tliis bird, average 20.6 X 16.1 (Hartert). 



[The eggs of L. eristatus eristatus L. (Plate 25; fig. 18 — 22, Siberia) are also 

 illustrated in the Ibis, 1905, pi. XI, fig. 6, 9. Rey gives the average of 31 eggs as 

 21.92 X 17.69 mm., Max. 25 X 18, Min. 20.3 X 16.8; Average weight of 5 eggs, 190 mg. 

 L. eristatus phoenicuroides (Sch.) breeds in Transcaspia, Turkestan etc. (Egg figured 

 in Br. Mus. Cat. Eggs, IV, pi. XIII, fig. 4; Dresser, pi. — , fig. 8—10.) Radde's 



ments. 



