e 
594 
2 
Adult Female. Can always be distinguished from the old male by the less amount of black on the fore part 
of the head; the forehead is slightly varied by a few blackish feathers, which are preceded by a narrow 
whitish frontal band. 
Young. The young birds have no trace of the black forehead, and otherwise differ from the adults in having 
most of the feathers of the upper surface crossed by a narrow dusky subterminal bar, and tipped with 
white ; the whitish edgings to the wing-coverts and quills are very broad and conspicuous ; the under 
surface of the body is a dull yellowish white. 
Obs. Even before they leave Europe the traces of the barred plumage of the young begin to disappear ; 
and by the time that the birds have reached South-western Africa, which seems to be their winter home, 
the whole of the upper surface is of a uniform brownish ash-colour. In Sharpe’s collection are several 
examples from Damaraland obtained by the late Mr. C. J. Andersson; and the state of moult mm which 
some of them are shows that the fully adult plumage is not assumed till the following spring. One 
specimen is putting on his adult livery, and even showing the first appearances of the rose-coloured 
breast ; this bird was obtained at Objimbinque on the 10th of February, 1864. 
THE present species is a summer visitor to Europe, migrating south in the autumn as far as 
South-eastern Africa. Its summer habitat appears to extend over Central and South-eastern 
Europe; but it sometimes straggles into the more northern countries of the continent. 
Twice it has been known to occur in England—the first specimen having been obtained, as 
long ago as 1851, in the Scilly Islands, while a second example was procured near Yarmouth in 
the spring of 1869. Full particulars of these two examples will be found in Professor Newton's 
edition of ‘ Yarrell,’ and in Mr. Harting’s ‘ Hand-book.’ 
The Lesser Grey Shrike is likewise stated to have been once killed in Denmark; but our 
friend Mr. Benzon informs us that he cannot find any authentic evidence of its capture, although 
mentioned by Kjzerbolling. In Sweden it has been said to breed; and Nilsson states that a pair 
were observed, and the hen bird procured, at Lackalanga, near Lund, on the 29th of May, 1837, 
and that Pastor Wallengren observed one near Ljungby, but could not then procure it; he 
succeeded, however, in shooting a male bird there on the 20th of May, 1856; and Nilsson 
himself saw one near Hafgard, in Southern Skane. Westerlund also says that it breeds in East 
Skane, where a nest was found in 1866, near West Wram, and sent to the Lund Museum by 
Pastor Sjorén. Meves, on the other hand, after examining this nest, is certain that it is that of 
LL. collurio, and he considers that Lanius minor has never really bred in Sweden. Von Wright 
records only one instance of its occurrence in Finland; and even in the Baltic Provinces it is very 
uncommon, Meyer only recording a specimen shot on the Aa. In Germany, according to 
Naumann, it is migratory, being rare in some localities and common in others. It arrives early 
in May, breeds in Germany, and leaves again in August, migrating during the night. According 
to Borggreve it is not uncommon in the eastern and central parts of North Germany, occurring 
in all parts to the east of the Elbe, and occasionally in Thuringia, Anhalt, and Eastern Hanover. 
Brahts gives an exceptional instance of its breeding at Neuwied. Godron records it as rare in 
Lorraine, where it has been killed near Nancy and Metz; and Kroener gives it as a resident in 
Alsace from April to September, “ nesting in the forests and on large trees bordering the roads.” 
Degland and Gerbe state that Zanius minor is very common in spring and summer in 
