496 RARE BRITISH BIRDS 



2. Distribution. This race breeds in Scandinavia, Finland, and North Russia, the Baltic 

 Provinces, and locally in East Prussia. During the winter months it becomes a vagrant, and 

 has been recorded from Orenburg, Poland, and once (Gloucester, March 1907), if not twice, in 

 England. Allied forms of this species are found in Central Europe and across Asia to Japan. 

 [F. c. R. J.] 



SCANDINAVIAN CRESTED-TIT [Pdrus cristdtus cristdtus Linnseus. Northern crested-tit. 

 German, nordische Haubenmeise]. 



1. Description. Closely resembles the Scottish form, Parus cristatus scoticus, but is slightly 

 paler above and has much less black on the throat, the black patch being confined to a broad 

 band down the middle of the throat and not extending on to the sides of the throat ; the sides 

 of the body are paler, and the white edges to the feathers of the head are a trifle broader and of 

 a pure white. Sexes alike in size and coloration. Length 4| inches [111 mm.] [w. p. p. and T. w.] 



2. Distribution. This race breeds in Scandinavia, Northern Russia south to Poland and 

 the central governments, probably also in the Carpathians and in East Prussia. It has 

 occurred as a vagrant in the Caucasus, and one specimen has been definitely identified from 

 England (Yorks, March 1872), while other probable occurrences are recorded. [F. c. R. J.] 



CENTRAL EUROPEAN CRESTED-TIT [Pdrus cristdtus mitratus Brehm. French, mesange 

 huppee ; German, mitteleuropawche Haubenmeise ; Italian, cincia col ciuffo]. 



1. Description. Closely resembles the Scandinavian form, but is most rufescent on the 

 upper part of the body. The size is the same. Feathers of the head black, widely margined 

 with white, those on the back of the head prolonged, forming a crest ; region of the ear black ; 

 mantle reddish brown ; wings and tail rufescent brown, brightest on the rump ; chin, middle 

 of the throat, and fore-neck black ; under parts white, washed on the side with light buff, 

 [w. P. P. and T. w.] 



2. Distribution. This form of crested-tit breeds in Western and Southern Europe from the 

 south of Spain and North Portugal through France, Holland, Belgium, West Germany, Jylland, 

 Switzerland, and Austro-Hungary to the Balkan Peninsula. Like the other tits it becomes 

 vagrant after the breeding season, and has then occurred in Italy south of the Alps, and once in 

 the south of England (Yarmouth, Isle of Wight, prior to 1844). The birds from the Iberian 

 Peninsula may form a separate race. [F. c. R. J.] 



THE SHRIKES 1 



[ORDER : Passeriformes. FAMILY : Laniidce] 



SOUTHERN GREY-SHRIKE [Ldnius excubitor meriodiondlis Temminck. French, pie- 

 griecfie mdridionale ; Italian, averla meridionale]. 



1. Description. Recognised by its grey head (like the remainder of the upper part) and its 

 pink under parts. Sexes alike. Length 10 in. [254 mm.]. General colour of the upper parts 

 leaden grey, darkest on the head and lightest on the rump and upper tail-coverts ; middle pairs 

 of tail feathers black, tipped with white ; outer tail feathers white on the outer webs and largely 

 so on the inner webs towards the tip ; primaries and secondaries black, white at the base and at 

 the tip ; feathers at the extreme base of the bill white, continued in a line over the eyes ; 

 lores and ear-coverts jet-black ; throat and sides of the neck white, gradually merging into the 

 pink of the remainder of the under parts ; under tail-coverts white, [w. p. p. and T. w.] 



2. Distribution. This form of great grey-shrike breeds in the Iberian Peninsula commonly, 

 and also in the south of France. As a casual visitor it has been recorded from many localities 



1 Vol. ii. p. 237. 



