3 
Provence, Languedoc, and the southern provinces of France, in many of which it breeds. In 
Provence it is generally found on the plains or near water, according to MM. Jaubert and 
Barthélemy-Lapommeraye. Bailly writes that it is not rare in Savoy, arriving in pairs about the 
20th to the 25th of April, and leaving from the middle of August to the early part of September. 
A few breed near St.-Jean-de-Maurienne, Bonneville, Roche, and Faucigny; but they are more 
numerous amongst the poplars which fringe the plains and marshes of Challes, Boise, Bissy, La 
Motte-Servolex, Bourges, Ste.-Héléne-du-Lac, Mollettes, and in the high trees in the marshy 
localities near Chambéry. Mr. Howard Saunders says that it “occurs in the east of Spain, but 
Guirao considers it very rare even there.” He further says that he has never noticed it in 
Andalucia, where, however, Machado records it as a common summer migrant; and Lord Lilford 
has only once seen it in that country. In Algeria it seems never yet to have been noticed; and 
our friend Mr. Gurney did not see it anywhere during his visit to that country. 
In his Fourth Appendix to a List of Birds observed in Malta and Gozo (Ibis, 1870, p. 491) 
Mr. C. A. Wright says:—‘‘In September 1866 I obtained my first and only specimen of this 
bird. Schembri mentions it as a very rare visitor, having met with it (also in September) in 
1839 and 1840. My bird had the flanks well marked with pink colour, and was therefore most 
likely a male.” In Sardinia, according to Salvadori, it arrives in the spring, and is one of the 
commonest Shrikes. ‘The same author states that this species is rather abundant throughout 
Italy, arriving in April and leaving in September, and frequenting the lofty trees in the vicinity 
of the cultivated fields. Regarding its occurrence in Sicily, Professor Doderlein remarks that 
this species is very numerous in summer, especially in the neighbourhood of Palermo, where 
many pairs are to be found breeding; but according to Benoit it is less abundant about Messina, 
although generally distributed throughout the island. In Styria, according to Seidensacher, it is 
a common bird, nesting in the country. Lord Lilford writes as follows:—“A rare summer visitor 
to the island of Corfu, where I obtained three specimens in May 1858. Abundant in Montenegro 
in August.” It arrives in Greece, according to Lindermayer, in the middle of April “in large 
numbers, and commences to breed early in May. About the middle of August both old and young 
leave the mainland for the south. Erhardt says that it is resident on the islands; and it is there- 
fore probable that a few winter in Greece.” 
Mr. EK. Cavendish Taylor noticed it near Smyrna, and again at Constantinople; and Messrs. 
Elwes and Buckley, writing on the birds of Turkey, state that it arrived in Bulgaria the last 
week in April, being a summer visitor to Turkey, and not uncommon in some parts. Pallas 
found it common in Southern Russia, where, according to Von Nordmann, it arrives in April, and 
leayes early in October. Ménétries writes that during his journey in the Caucasus he killed the 
Lesser Grey Shrike at Saliane, on the banks of the Kour, where it was found on the top of the 
trees. In Russia, Mr. Sabandaeff kindly informs us, it chiefly inhabits the southern part of the 
country, but occasionally, though rarely, is found breeding near Moscow. In the Governments 
of Kazan and Oufa it is commoner than Lanius eaxcubitor, and is tolerably numerous in 
Simbirsk. According to the observations made by Professor Kessler in the Government of Kieff, 
it frequents bushes, gardens, and groves, and is never found in the large forests. In the late 
summer numbers are found on the islands of the Dnieper in company with Starlings. 
It was noticed in Persia by De Filippi, and has also been procured near Erzeroom by 
B2 
39 
Oo 
