SHKIKES. 297 



Excellently figured by Dr. Bree as the "white collared 

 flycatcher." 



Gen. Lanius, L. 



Bill strong, straight, hooked at the point ; stiff bristles 

 on the gape ; nostrils covered with bristly feathers from the 

 forehead ; claws strong ; tail long, more or less graduated. 



This genus forms a very good transition from the falcons 

 to the warblers, and should properly stand next to the 

 Eapaces. 



71. LANIUS EXCUBITOH, L. Storre Tornskata. The Ash- 



coloured Shrike. F. D. 



Length 10 in.; tail 3^ in. beyond the closed wings. 



Colour pale ash blue above ; below white ; a black 



band through the eye; wings black, with two white 



spots on each ; tail graduated, black : sides and tip 



white. First wing feather broad, reaching beyond the 



first wing spot, second primary much shorter than the 



third, which is longest. The females and young have 



the under parts finely watered with a darker colour. 



Is local, and nowhere very common. I never met with 



the nest except in Lapland. Remains in the middle and 



south of the country, throughout the winter, but I never saw 



it in Wermland during the summer. 



The nest, usually placed in a small fir, is one of the 

 warmest and most comfortable I ever saw ; built outwardly 

 of dead fir branches, and lined with a very thick layer of 

 feathers. 



Eggs five ; considerably larger than those of the red- 

 backed shrike ; greenish white, marbled with grey and brown. 

 They go to nest in Lapland early in May. 



72. L. MINOR, Gmel. Svartpannad Tornskata. D. F. 



Length about 8 in.; colour above ash grey, under- 

 neath white, with a rosy tint on the sides and breast ; a 

 deep black band over the forehead, and through the 

 eyes ; wings black, with only one white spot ; tail 

 black, white on the sides ; first wing feather Email, 



