242 THE SHRIKES 



is no doubt that occasionally a second is reared (Journ. fur Ornithologie, 1875, 

 p. 422). [F. c. R. J.] 



5. Food. Insects, including beetles and grasshoppers ; also wasps and 

 larvae of Vanessa urticce (Stevenson, Birds of Norfolk, i. p. 62), and Sphinx tilice 

 (Jackel, Vogel Bayerns, p. 198) : lizards, small frogs, birds and field mice. The last- 

 named are the staple food of this species during the winter months. Of birds many 

 nestlings of various species are taken in the breeding season ; also small birds such 

 as various tits, buntings, finches, wrens, and goldcrests, occasionally skylarks 

 (Birds of Norfolk, i. p. 62), and even members of the thrush genus (blackbird, field- 

 fare, etc.), while, according to Naumann, it will attack partridges when caught in 

 snowdrifts. Indigestible portions of the food are thrown up in pellets. [F. c. R. J.] 



6. Song Period. On the Continent the song is chiefly heard on fine days in 

 the winter months and during early spring. Mr. F. Kerry heard one singing on 

 December 6, 1879, near Harwich (Zoologist, 1880, p. 70). [F. c. R. J.] 



The following species and sub-species are described in the supplementary chapter on 

 " Rare Birds " :- 



Lesser grey-shrike, Lanius minor Gmelin. 

 Continental-woodchat, Lanius senator senator Linnaeus, and 

 Corsican-woodchat, Lanius senator badius Hartlaub. 

 Masked-shrike, Lanius nubicus Lichtenstein. [F. c. R. J.] 



