Birds of Gran Caiuiria. 005 



This Shrike is most nearly allied to Liiuna excubilor 

 algeriensis from Algei'ia aud Laains excubitor dodsoni from 

 Morocco, 



Examples from Graii Cauaria of Laniua e. koeii'uji have 



(1) the upper parts similar to L. e. dodsoiv, but darker 



than L. e. alyeriensis ; 



(2) the under parts similar to L. e. alijeriensis, but 



lighter than L. e. dodsoni. 



A resident species, the Grey Shrike is the most locally 

 distributed of any bird found in the island. It is entirely 

 absent from the north of Gran Canaria. As I travelled 

 south, Shrikes were first met with after the town of Aguimes 

 liad been passed, and along tlie main road to Tirajana they 

 were by no means rare. In these southern villages they 

 largely frequent the almond-groves, jjerching on the topmost 

 branch, from which they give forth their musical whistle. 

 They are not found on the Cumbres, but after descending 

 on the southern side they become quite plentiful ; near the 

 Cueva de las Ninas (on the edge of the Pinar) they Avere 

 found up to 2280 ft. I expected to meet with this Shrike 

 on the desert-like country between Carrisal and Maspa- 

 lomas, but only saw a single example in a Euphorbia-bush 

 near Juan Grande. Another pair_, however, frequented the 

 sandy ground in the neighbourhood of the "Charco^' at 

 Maspalomas. Further round the coast in the Barranco de 

 Mogan I came across several pairs. On the 8th April (1909) I 

 discovered a nest, containing five fully fledged young, placed 

 in the centre of a low bush on very stony ground. This 

 nest was situated within a few yards of the main road 

 between Aguimes and Terajana. Three of the young birds 

 I brought away, hoping to keep them alive, but in this, I 

 am sorry to say, I failed. 



Mr. Meade-Waldo found the number of eggs laid to vary 

 from four to six in a clutch. 



Sandy-coloured examples of this Shrike are occasionally 

 met with. 



SER. IX. VOL. VI. 2 U 



