LANIID^. 49 



Lesser Grey Shrike. Lanlus mmor, Gmel. 



An accidental visitor of extremely rare occurrence. An immature bird 

 was obtained near Plymouth, September 23rd, 1876. It was taken alive 

 by a bird-catcher (J. G., Zool. 1876, p. 5178). 



We think it likely that the Lesser Grey Shrike has been sometimes con- 

 founded with the preceding and larger species, and examples may have 

 been obtained without being recognized or recorded. A very fine adult 

 male was forwarded to us from Great Yarmouth in 1870 as a Great Grey 

 Shrike, and is still, we believe, the only British representative of this 

 species in perfect adult plumage. The young bird captured in September 

 1876, above mentioned, was actually looked upon by the bird-stutfer into 

 whose hands it passed as only a young Great Grey Shrike, and was treated 

 so carelessly that it narrowly escaped being lost or destroyed when it was 

 luckily seen by Mr. J. Gatcombe, and recognized as a rarity. 



The Lesser Grey Shrike has occurred on the Scilly Isles ; a female was 

 recorded by Mr. Kodd as having been shot there in jN'ovember 1851. 



Eed-backed Shrike. Lanius colluno, Linn. 

 [Butcher-Bird : Dev.'] 



A summer migrant, not very common, but frequently met with in the 

 neighbourhood of the sea-coast both in the north and south of the county. 

 Breeds. 



Xowhere a numerous species, yet sufficiently dispersed over the south- 

 western district of England to be a well-known and familiar bird, the 

 lied-backed Shrike is one of the latest to arrive among our summer 

 migrants, and among the first to depart. The 2nd May is an average date 

 for its first appearance, and by the end of the fii'st week in September, 

 and often earlier, it has left us again for the south. Sand-hills on the 

 coast, especially those which have a tangled growth of wild rose, black- 

 thorn, and other shrubs, are a very favourite haunt for this bird, as they 

 afford an abundant supply of moths, beetles, and other insect food. Thick 

 hedge-rows, commons, and furzy hill-sides, as well as gardens and lawns 

 not far from the sea, are much frequented, and in a summer day's drive it 

 may often be seen seated on the telegraph-wires, from which commanding 

 perch it frcrjuently descends on a passing insect. We have had good 

 opportunities of studying the habits of this liandsomc and interesting bird, 

 as there was each year a nest on our lawn in Xorth Devon, and we have 

 been similarly favoured in other parts of the West of England where we 

 have resided. We have kept the young birds in a cage, where they have 

 Boon become tame and impudent. We did not attempt to keep them 

 through the winter, but set them free at the end of August. Like rap- 

 torial and many insectivorous birds. Shrikes void the indigestible portions 

 of their food in the form of small pellets. This they do even in captivity, 

 as our tame birds, fed upon a mixed diet of raw meat, hard-boiled eggs, 



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