THE GREAT, OR ASH-COLOURED SHRIKE. 59 



are yet recorded ; * its summer visits, indeed, 

 appear accidental, and have only been observed 

 once or twice. Its range of geographical distri- 

 bution seems confined to Europe, or if it does pass 

 the Asiatic boundary, it is soon lost, to give way 

 to some other species which may represent it, 

 within a limit of its own. In the northern parts 

 of the new world, again, its place is filled by seve- 

 ral species so closely allied, that they were long 

 considered identical. In Europe, it extends as 

 far north as Lapland and Sweden, and parts of 

 Russia, but its stronghold, or metropolis, may be 

 viewed as the midlands and south of France, where 

 it breeds, devaricating on each side in varied pro- 

 portions. Their principal haunts are the well- 

 wooded but enclosed countries, the parks, and 

 enclosed forests. According to Temminck, they 

 build on trees and lower brushwood ; while Mr 

 Hewitson says, " that it builds its nest in thick 

 bushes and high hedges ; it is composed of umbel- 

 liferous plants, roots, moss, and wool, lined with 

 finer roots and dried grass." The egs are from 

 five to seven in number, they are of a blueish or 

 greyish white, spotted, and blotched over with 

 brown or purpleish grey.f 



* " I have seen it in Wiltshire, and have no doubt of 

 its breeding there," are the words of Lewin. He had not, 

 however, actually observed the act in question. 



f Hewitson, Oology, pi. cviii. 



Birds of Britain, i. p. 70. 



