262 A PRACTICAL HANDBOOK OF BRITISH BIRDS. 



March after which it becomes indistinguishable from adult except 

 for a slight mixture of grey feathers on fore-head. 



First winter. Female. — Like first winter male but with no 

 black at all on fore-head, and browiier on upper-parts. Summer. — 

 Moults as first winter male and becomes apparently indistinguishable 

 from adult female. 



Measurements and structure. — (^ wing 114-123 mm., tail 86-96, 

 tarsus 23-25, bill from feathers on culmen 13.5-16 (12 measured). 

 $ wing 113-122. Primaries : 1st equal to, or 1-4 mm. shorter 

 than, longest primary -co vert, 3rd longest, 2nd 1-4 mm. shorter, 

 4th 3-6 shorter, 5th 11-14 shorter ; 3rd and 4th emarginated outer 

 webs. Secondaries about equal 10th primary, tips rounded. Tail 

 somewhat graduated, three' central pairs longest, oiitermost pair 

 11-16 mm. shorter. Bill strong, compressed, upper mandible 

 hooked at point and cutting edges with tooth-like projection near 

 tij?. Strong rictal bristles, and bristlelike feathers covering 

 nostrils. 



Soft 'parts. — Bill black ; legs and feet brown-black ; iris dark 

 brown. 



Characters. — No subspecies recognized. Differs from L. excubitor 

 in its very short 1st primary and different wing-formula, shorter 

 tail, and adults in having black on fore-head. 



Field -CHARACTERS. — Has the usual habit common to Shrikes of 

 perching on top of some bush or tree and thence making stoops 

 on its prey ; also hovers. Breast tinged with pink and broad 

 black stripe from eye to eye distinguish adults from Great Grey 

 Shrike, while grey back and crown of head distinguish it from 

 Woodchat and Red-backed Shrikes. Will drive away all birds up 

 to size of Buzzard from nest (F.C.R.J.). 



Breedinc4-habits. — Usual site is from 10 to 30 ft. high in a 

 deciduous tree by a roadside, where a good look-out can be kept. 

 Nest. — Built of various flowering weeds, such as Gnaphalium, Filago, 

 etc., lined with feathers, roots, wool, hair, etc., and readily 

 distinguishable from that of L. collvrio. Eggs. — 5 to 7, nearly always 

 bluish-green in ground-colour, rarely with a creamy or buff ground » 

 and brown and violet markings. Normally blotchtd with olivc- 

 browai and pale greenish -brown in a zone. Average of 100 eggs, 

 25.1 X 18.2 mm. Breeding-season. — About the last two weeks in 

 May in central Europe. Incubation. — Said to be performed by 

 both sexes and to last 15 days. Normally one brood. 



Food. — Apparently chiefly insects (coleoptera, including the larger 

 species, such as cockchafers {Melolontha), lepidoptera, the larger 

 diptera, and orthoptera (including Gryllotalpa) ), also millipedes 

 {Julus). 



Distribution. — England. — Sixteen. Most Sept. and Oct, but 



