GREAT GREY SHRIKE. 159 



This bird is used by falconers abroad during autumn and 

 winter when trapping Falcons. The Shrike is fastened to 

 the ground, and, by screaming loudly, gives notice to the 

 Falconer, who is concealed, of the approach of a Hawk. 

 It was on this account, therefore, called excubitor, the 

 sentinel. It frequents groves and forests, and builds on 

 trees at some distance from the ground, making a nest of 

 bents, roots, and moss, lined with down and wool. The 

 eggs are from four to six in number, of a bluish or greyish 

 white colour, spotted over the large end with two shades of 

 light brown and ash. The length of the egg one inch one 

 line, by nine lines and a half in breadth. 



The Grey Shrike has been obtained in several southern 

 and western counties, in Surrey, Sussex, Wiltshire, Dor- 

 setshire, Devonshire, Worcestershire, and Cheshire ; and I 

 am informed by Mr. Thompson of Belfast, that it has oc- 

 curred in one or two instances in the North of Ireland. A 

 specimen shot near Belfast is in the collection of Dr. J. D. 

 Marshall. North of London, it has been killed in Hert- 

 fordshire, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, Yorkshire, 

 Cumberland, Northumberland, and Durham. No Shrikes 

 appear to have been seen either in the islands of Orkney 

 or Shetland; but the Grey Shrike is included among the 

 birds of Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Lapland, Eussia, 

 and Germany. In Holland it is rare; but it is rather 

 a common bird in France, and remains there throughout 

 the year, frequenting woods in summer, and open plains 

 in winter. It is an inhabitant of Spain, Provence, and 

 Italy. It is found also in Sicily, Malta, Fezzan, and east- 

 ward as far as Erzeroom. 



In the old male, the upper mandible is black, with a 

 projecting tooth near the point of the beak, which is con- 

 siderably curved ; under mandible yellowish brown at the 

 base, becoming brownish black at the end ; the nostrils hid 



