7 8 



BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



Woo&cbat Sbrifee. 



THE Woodchat Shrike (Lanius rufus, Brisson) is only an 

 accidental visitor to the British Isles, mostly during mi- 

 gration. It is said to be a summer visitant to Central and 

 Southern Europe, nesting as far east as Persia, and as far 

 north as the shores of the Baltic. The adult male has the 

 forehead, space round eye, ear-coverts, sides of neck and 

 upper portion of back, black ; lores, white ; crown, nape, 

 and upper back, rich chestnut ; rump, white ; lower back, 

 grey; longest upper tail-coverts, grey; tail, black, central 

 two rectrices white at base and with white tips ; outermost 

 two tail-feathers nearly all white on outer web; wings, black; 

 basal portion of quills, white, showing a conspicuous spot ; 

 secondaries, tipped with white ; under parts, white ; i rides, 

 hazel-brown ; bill, legs, and feet, black. Length, from six 

 to seven inches. The female is similar to the male, but the 

 colouration is duller. 



