420 Mr. M. J. 'Nicoll—Conti'ibutions 



Lanius senator senator Linn. 



? Lanius auricidatns Shelley, p. 117. 



Lanms senator senator Linn., Hartert, V. d. pal. F. vol. i. 

 p. 434. 



I have a single male of the typical Woodchat Shrike from 

 the AVadi Natron, shot by myself on March 19th, 1910. In 

 this specimen the central pair of rectrices are dark brown to 

 their roots. 



Lanius senator niloticus (Bp.). 



Lanius senator niloticus (Bp.), Hartert, Vog. d. pal. F. 

 vol. i. p. 436. 



Lanius po^neranus niloticus (Bp.), Nicoll, Ibis, 1909, 

 p. 472. 



During my visit in March 1910 Woodchats were quite 

 numcrons, and I obtained five examples of this geographical 

 race. 



This Eastern form differs from typical L. s. senator in 

 having the bases of the central pair of tail-feathers ivhite. 

 The amount of white is somewhat variable. One example 

 has 3 cm. from the base of the tail white. In others there 

 is less ; but as the typical form has the central pair of 

 rectrices darker to their bases, I refer all examples shewing 

 the least traces of white on this part to the Eastern form. 



I do not vouch for the validity of this form as a ffood 

 subspecies, as I have not personally examined breeding 

 examples of L.s. niloticus; but all the European breeding birds 

 which I have seen have the central tail-feathers dark to the 

 very base. In Egypt, as stated above, one meets with 

 examples with a little white only on these parts ; but as both 

 extremes occur on migration it is quite natural to expect 

 intermediates. Such individuals in no way disprove the 

 validity of the two subspecies, and therefore, as previously 

 stated, I consider that all examples shewing any amount of 

 white on the bases of the central pair of rectrices should 

 be assigned to the Eastern form for the present, at all 

 events. 



