LANIID.E. 87 



L A N 1 1 D $1 . Young barred below. 



84. Lanius meridionalis, Temminck. The Spanish Grey 



Shrike. 



Spanish. Alcaudon real. 



This Shrike is scarce in the neighbourhood of Gibraltar, the 

 few specimens I have seen there having occurred in autumn only. 

 Further north, though rather local, they become common in many 

 places, being abundant and resident in the scrubby jungle near 

 Seville. They nest, about the 15th of April, in bushes and low 

 trees, building a large nest, the internal diameter measuring some 

 five inches. When placed on a bough, the lower half is some- 

 times made of mud, the upper half being constructed with rough 

 grass lined with fine grass, the whole covered outside with 

 lichens and bits of Cudweed (GnaphaUum luteo-album] the same 

 plant so much used by the Woodchat and many other birds. 

 The eggs are from four to five in number. At one time I was 

 under the erroneous impression that these birds were migratory, 

 from having seen one or two near Gibraltar in autumn; but, 

 never having seen or heard of them on the African side, must 

 have been mistaken ; besides, they were more numerous about 

 the Goto del Key in winter than in May. However, this tends 

 to show that they shift their ground in Spain, though not 

 migrating out of the country. 



Sexes alike. Above bluish grey ; below with rosy tinge, except the grey 

 flanks ; narrow white stripe from forehead over eye. Length 9 inches. 



85. Lanius algeriensis, Lesson. The Algerian Grey Shrike. 



Moorish. Bou-serund (Favier). 



Favier's remarks, which under the synonym "meridionalis" 

 refer to this species, do not add anything to the following notes. 

 This Shrike, which would be more fitly named the North-west- 



