Their Eggs and Nests, 67 



We arrive now at the second Order. 

 ORDER— PASSERES. 

 FAMILY L— LANIAD.^. 



GREAT GREY SHRIKE— (Z^^/zV/j exaibitor). 



Greater Butcher Bird, Ash-coloured Shrike, Cinere- 

 ous Shrike, Grey Shrike. — This bird is an occasional 

 visitor only, and has very rarely been seen in the 

 breedincr season. No authentic instance of its nestinor 

 with us is known. 



LESSER GREY SHRIKE— (Z^^^W 7ninor). 



A rare and accidental visitor to Enorland. It breeds 

 in Southern Europe and North Africa. 



RED-BACKED SHRIKE— (Z^;//?^j collurio). 

 Lesser Butcher Bird, Flusher, Murdering-pie, Jack 

 Baker, etc. — The male of this species is a beautiful 

 bird, with his bright chesnut back and lively air. 

 They spend only a part of the year with us, but that 

 part involves the period of nesting. Tlie nest is 

 usually rather high up in a strong, thick bush, large- 

 sized for the bird, cup-shaped, and made of coarse 

 withered herbage externally, witli rather finer 

 materials within, and lined with hair or some such 

 substance. The eggs are four or five in number, 

 varying much in colour and marks. The ground- 

 shade varies, and so do the markings ; the latter, 

 however, being usually found thicker and darker in 

 a zone or band encircling some part of the q^^. 



