2 
Further characteristics of the adult seem to be a hoary forehead and eyebrow, and a greater 
extent of white on the lower part of the back, and especially on the tail-feathers; the older the 
bird the greater the extent of white on the outer rectrices, so that sometimes the outermost 
feathers are pure white. Some examples have a very distinct tinge of pink on the breast, as 
portrayed in the hinder figure of our Plate; this, again, seems to be a character of age, and not 
sex, as we have seen males and females both tinged with this pink colour. 
We have not yet succeeded in identifying the bird called by Pallas Lanius major (Zoogr. 
Rosso-Asiat. i. p. 401), from Siberia. In our recent paper on the Grey Shrikes (P. Z. 8. 1870, 
p. 090), we stated our belief that this species might ultimately prove to be the North-American 
Lanius borealis, basing our opinion on the cross-barring of the breast, to which Pallas draws 
particular attention, and which is one of the peculiar characteristics of the North-American 
species. Lately, however, we procured, through the kindness of M. Jules Verreaux, a specimen 
of a Grey Shrike which had been forwarded to M. Taczanowsky, of the Museum of Warsaw, by 
MM. Dybowsky and Parrex. ‘The plumage of this bird is so extraordinary as to merit a short 
description :— 
Male, killed on the southern portion of Lake Baikal. General colour grey, everywhere pervaded on the upper 
surface with an ashy-brown tint, except on the lower part of the back, which is clear grey shading into 
pure white on the rump, the upper tail-coverts grey, transversely vermiculated with ashy brown; fore- 
head and a narrow superciliary line whitish; ear-coverts dusky black; scapulars white; wing-coverts 
dusky black tipped with buff; secondaries tipped with whitish, some of these tips obsoletely vermicu- 
lated, both the primaries and secondaries externally white at their bases, forming a very distinct double 
alar bar; tail-feathers black tipped with white, the latter colour gradually predominating toward the 
outermost feathers, which are almost entirely white; cheeks and entire under surface of the body 
greyish, everywhere strongly vermiculated with greyish brown; abdomen and under wing- and tail- 
coverts white, the latter, as also the thighs, marked with obsolete vermiculations; feet black; bill 
brownish black, yellow at base. Total length 10 inches, culmen 0°7, wing 4°55, tail 4-4, tarsus 0°9. 
It may be presumed that we have here the true Lanius major of Pallas; and if so, the next 
question is, to which species is it referable? This cannot be answered without a larger series of 
the Siberian bird being examined; but at present we are inclined to believe that the species is 
distinct from both L. excubitor and L. borealis, resembling the latter in the ashy-grey hue of the 
upper and in the strongly marked vermiculations of the under surface, but possessing the double 
alar bar of Lanius excubitor. ‘The name of major scarcely appears to be justified; for a series of 
Great Grey Shrikes, from Europe, show great variation in size, and some of them are larger than 
the Siberian bird. ‘The tarsus in the latter is ;45 inch shorter than in the European species. 
Lanius excubitor is one of the typical species of the Western Palearctic Region, extending 
its range over the northern and central portions, and it is known to occur in very high latitudes. 
To the eastward its habitat is not yet clearly defined, while the records of its occurrence in 
Southern Europe must also be received with caution. We believe that in this quarter Lanius 
lahtora has been mistaken for it. 
In the British islands it is by no means an uncommon visitant in autumn and winter; but 
there is no authentic evidence of its having bred with us, and we are glad to see that Mr. A. G. 
More, in his paper on the Geographical Distribution of Birds in Great Britain during the 
