The Distribution of Birds in Great Britain. 413 



Orphir, near Stromness, about thirty-five years ago. He knows the 

 person well who took different nests. 



Dr. Saxby writes that the Snowy Owl was first obtained in Shetland 

 in 1808 by Dr. Edmonston, " who neither had nor has any doubt that 

 the bird bred at that time. The spot where the nest used to be found is 

 still pointed out." In Macgillivray's ' British Birds ' (vol. iii. p. 412) 

 mention is made of a nest and three young birds found in Shetland, 

 and reported to Dr. Edmonston, who, however, is there quoted as saying 

 " I have always doubted whether it bred here." 



Mr. Robert Gray thinks that the Snowy Owl may breed in the 

 Hebrides, where it is by no means rare. It has been repeatedly seen 

 at Benbecula ; and specimens have been recently obtained in Skye, 

 Harris, and Benbecula. 



On the Continent the Snowy Owl is strictly an Arctic species, 

 breeding only at Alpine elevations, and these north of latitude 60, 

 hence its nesting in any part of the British Isles appears highly 

 improbable. 



The Scops Eared Owl (Ephialtes scops, Keys, et Bias.) is recorded 

 by Mr. Hogg (Brewster's 'History of Stockton-on-Tees,' App. p. 14), 

 on the information of Mr. Winch, as having been known to breed once, 

 forty years ago, in Castle-Eden Dene, Durham. 



ENNEOCTONUS COLLURIO (Boie). Red-backed Shrike. 



Provinces I.-XII. XIV. 



Subprovinces i, 2-15, 17, 18, 20, 21-25, 28. 



Lat. 50-55 or 56. " English " type. Not in Ireland. 



Breeds only occasionally in Cornwall, and is apparently not found in 

 Lincolnshire. Mr. Eyton describes the Red-backed Shrike as very 

 common in Wales. Thence northwards it becomes rare, nesting only 

 occasionally in Westmoreland, Cumberland, and Durham, and is not 

 included in the Northumberland list. 



A very few instances are known of it breeding in Scotland. The 

 Rev. J. Duns has once seen a pair during the summer in Berwickshire. 

 Mr. Robert Gray tells me that a pair frequented a hedge-row near 

 Dunbar during the breeding-season of 1852 ; and Mr. J. R. Pencaitland 

 has ascertained that the nest has been once found in Haddingtonshire. 



Obs. The Woodchat (E. rufus] is thought to have once or twice 

 nested at Freshwater, in the Isle of Wight, where Mr. H. Rogers has 

 twice taken a nest which Mr. F. Bond refers to this species ; and Mr. 

 Rogers believes that he saw the parent bird about the same locality. A 

 young bird of the year was shot, in 1856, in the vicinity of the spot where 

 the nest had been taken. 



The Ash-coloured Shrike (Lanius excubitor] is also supposed to 

 have bred in this country, from the circumstance of old birds 

 having been noticed during the summer months. In his ' British 

 Birds,' Lewin writes, " I have seen it in Wiltshire, and have no doubt 

 of its breeding there." Yarrell mentions its occurrence during summer 



