9 
cD) 
nesting-season, holds the same opinion. We are indebted to Dr. Edward Hamilton, V.P.Z.S., 
for the accompanying note as to its occurrence in Bedfordshire:—‘‘ On the 25th of November, 
1848, I observed one of these birds perched on the top of a decayed ash tree in the Litany, a 
marshy place studded with small bushes, about three miles from Dunstable, Bedfordshire. After 
watching him for some time, he flew to a bush about four hundred yards from the tree, when I 
was able to creep up within a short distance and shoot him. He proved to be a fine old male; 
and I believe this is the first recorded instance of the bird being killed in Bedfordshire. I 
watched him for at least half an hour, and did not observe any motion of the tail, as noticed by 
Selby in Yarrell’s ‘ British Birds’ (vol. i. p. 151). The specimen is still in my possession.” 
Thompson enumerates several instances of its occurrence in Ireland. It is found the whole 
year round in the north of France, and throughout that country appears to be not uncommon. 
In the north of Spain Lord Lilford states that it is met with occasionally; and the Rev. A. C. 
Smith has recorded it from Portugal. Malherbe refers to it in Sicily, and Lindermayer in Greece, 
as a bird of passage, but we are doubtful as to whether these naturalists refer to the true Lanius 
excubitor or to one of the nearly allied southern species; for notwithstanding the supposed 
occurrence of the species in Palestine, as recorded by Dr. Tristram (Ibis, 1867, p. 364), we find 
on examination that all his specimens must be referred to L. lahtora. Probably also the bird 
recorded as L. excubitor by Mr. C. W. Wyatt as occurring in the Sinaitic peninsula (Ibis, 1870, 
p. 12) is also of the latter species. We must, however, observe that Lord Lilford (Powys) (Ibis, 
1860, p. 184) includes it in his list of the birds of the Ionian Islands. In Switzerland and 
Northern Italy this species is only a winter visitant, and is of rare occurrence in the latter 
country. Throughout Germany, more particularly in the north, it breeds not uncommonly; and 
it passes the whole winter in Luxembourg, Belgium, and the Rhenish Provinces, breeding 
generally. In Denmark it is not uncommon, many remaining throughout the winter; in Sweden 
it is found occasionally, and occurs as far north as the birch- and willow-regions extend, breeding 
even in Lapland. In von Wright’s ‘ Finland’s Foglar’ (p. 69) it is recorded as occurring in that 
country during the spring and autumn migrations, though he can offer no authentic evidence as 
to its breeding there; but Mr. Dresser has himself shot specimens in Finland, in the month of 
May, with the ovaries largely developed; so that it is not improbable that it does breed in that 
country. Demidoff states that it is very common in Southern Russia, nesting in the gardens, 
some remaining throughout the winter, but the larger quantity migrating at the beginning of the 
cold weather and returning in the early part of April (Voy. Russ. Mérid. iii. p.113). Pallas 
found it in Northern Russia, and Radde in South-eastern Siberia throughout the whole country 
he visited, excepting the elevated steppes of Dauria (Reis. im Stiden von Ost-Sib. ii. p. 274). 
Messrs. Dubowski and Parrex (J. f. O. 1868, p. 333), however, state that it is found rarely in the 
winter at Darasun, in Dauria. In the Indian Museum, according to Messsrs. Horsfield and 
Moore (Cat. i. p. 162), there is a specimen from Mesopotamia. From the above notes it will be 
seen that the range of this species is very extended, being the northern and central represen- 
tative of the genus Lanius in the Palearctic Region. In the southern part of the Mediterranean 
basin it is replaced to the west by ZL. meridionalis and L. algeriensis, and to the east by 
L. lahtora, whereas in the Indian Region it never occurs, its place being taken entirely by the 
latter species. 
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