292 On Laiiius lahtora and its Allies. 



ou the lesser wing-coverts, and in that respect approach more 

 nearly to Lanius lahtora, from which, however, this species 

 is distinguishable by its darker colour, grey underparts, and 

 darker inner webs to the secondaries. Of Lanius grimmi I 

 have not been able to examine sufficient specimens to hazard 

 an opinion as to its being a good species, but it appears to 

 me to be a pale isabelline form of Lanius lahtora, just as 

 Lanius mollis is of Lanius excubitor. 



In the present paper I have not mentioned the American 

 small Grey Shrike {Lanius ludovicianus), as I have taken 

 only those inhabiting the Palaearctic Region into considera- 

 tion, nor have I included Lanius excubitor and its allies, as 

 I propose to treat of them on a future occasion. But I may 

 here remark that, as pointed out by Dr. Sharpe and myself 

 (/. c), Lanius lahtora and its allies may readily be distin- 

 guished from Lanius excubitor by the thick rough leg, as 

 well as by the somewhat smaller size. 



It is, in the case of such very closely allied forms, by no 

 means easy to give a reliable key by which they may be 

 readily distinguished, but the following attempt will, I think, 

 be found useful for that purpose : — 



A. Lesser wing-coverts black, or black slightly 



tipped with grey ; upper parts pale grey, 

 underparts white ; the alar patch moderately 

 large ; black frontal band, as a rule, clearly 

 defined ; secondaries with the inner webs 

 chiefly white : culm. 0*8 to 0'85, wing 4-1 to 

 4o, tail 4-4 to 47, tarsus 1-15 to 1'25 inch . (1) L. lahtora. 



B. Lesser wing-coverts chiefly grey, or grey and 



black intermixed : 



a. Upper parts very dark grey ; underparts 



grey ; no white superciliary stripe ; a nar- 

 row black frontal line ; alar patch very 

 small ; inner webs of secondaries blackish, 

 narrowly margined and tipped with white : 

 culm. O-S to 0-9, wing 4-1 to 4-25, tail 4-4 

 to 4'6, tarsus 1-2 to 1-25 inch {-) L. alyeriensis. 



b. Upper parts very dark grey, underparts 



vinous ; a distinct white superciliary 

 stripe ; no frontal black band ; ahir patch 



