62 BRITISH BIRDS. 



especially on upper parts, become fewer as the bird ages, 

 while a grey tinge appears on head, nape, and upper tail- 

 coverts, and tail-feathers are edged with white. Young . 

 browner, and more barred above and below than female. 



Common from May to August throughout southern and 

 midland counties, and many parts of Wales ; rare in 

 northern counties and more so in Scotland ; in Ireland 

 has occurred once near Belfast. Nest : placed in thick 

 thorn bushes or tall hedges ; height from four to ten feet ; 

 composed of moss, roots, grass-stalks, wool or feathers, 

 lined with fine fibrous roots and hair ; sometimes small 

 twigs are used externally. Eggs : 4 to 6 ; yellowish-white, 

 spotted with brown and grey, greenish-white spotted with 

 olive-brown and grey, or reddish-white, spotted with red 

 and grey ; markings being chiefly around larger end and 

 the grey being underlying spots; size '90 by '65. Two 

 broods may be occasionally produced, as I have found 

 half-fledged young on August 6th. Usual note, a loud 

 harsh chack, chack, uttered while perched, and accom- 

 panied by both upward and lateral jerks of tail. Food : 

 mice, small birds, bees, beetles, etc., which may be 

 often found impaled on thorns, but not always near nest. 



76. Lanius pomeranus, Spaprman. WOODCHAT. 



Hab. Europe, north to Baltic and casually to British 

 Isles ; also Asia Minor, Persia, and N. Africa. In winter 

 south to Africa. 



Male : in front of eye, each side, a white streak, above 

 which frontal band is black, as are also sides of head and a 

 streak on each side of neck, bordering bright chestnut of 

 nape and crown ; upper back black ; scapulars white ; 

 wings blackish, with white bases to primaries, and buffish- 

 white tips to secondaries and greater coverts ; rump light 

 grey ; outer tail-feather each side white, except a portion 



