20G 



remaining until September or October. During 

 its residence with us it is but partially distributed, 

 being confined principally to the Southern and 

 Midland Counties, becoming more rare as we pro- 

 ceed northwards, and being hitherto altogether 

 unknown in Scotland. It frequents the margins 

 of woods, thickets, and tall hedges, as well as open 

 downs and commons more or less covered with 

 furze. It feeds on insects, small birds, and mice. 

 It builds in hedges, &c., and lays five or six eggs 

 of a light cream colour, sometimes tinged with 

 blue, and marked with spots of a reddish brown 

 and pale purplish grey. 



SHEIKE, WOODCHAT. 



LANIUS EUTILTJS, Penn. 



This species, which is abundant in many parts 

 of Africa, visits the European continent in spring, 

 and leaves it in September and October. Several 

 instances of its occurrence in this country are also 

 recorded. Its food consists of insects, and occa- 

 sionally small birds and quadrupeds. In size, in 

 most of its habits, and in its mode of feeding, the 

 Woodchat resembles the common Eed Shrike. It 

 is said to build invariably in the fork of a project- 

 ing branch of a tree. The nest is composed on the 

 outside of sticks, and of white moss from the 



