BARN OWL AND GREAT GREY SHRIKE. 



57 



valuable services of the woodland species.* 



In the collection of Mr. Edward Tindall of Knapton Hall 

 is a fine variety obtained at Hackness near Scarborough, in 

 December, 1876. This specimen has the back and wings of a 

 rich chesnut-brown, the wings shaded with mouse colour, the 

 usual black spots being absent; the facial disks a light buff 

 rajiiated with chesnut; the breast light buff and unspotted. 

 Professor Newton (Yarrell's Birds, vol. i., p. 198) speaking of a 

 similar variety, described by Mr. Stevenson, which occurred in 

 Norfolk, considers it to be of foreign origin and probably an 

 accidental visitor to this country, and remarks that Danish 

 examples in particular have the facial disks of a dark rusty-red 

 colour. 



PASSERES. LANIID^. 



LANIUS EXCUBITOR L. 

 Great Grey Shrike. 



An uncommon winter visitant. 



On the coast and especially in Holderness the Great Grey 

 Shrike is observed almost annually as an autumn immigrant, 

 arriving, as a rule, during the latter days of October; and 

 although varying in numbers, is always very far from numerous. 



* No apology is needed for introducing the following analysis of the 

 castings of our three most abundant species, given at p. 148 of Newton's 

 Yarrell. Such evidence cannot be too widely disseminated or too well known. 



