3 
disposed to consider undescribed, but afterwards referred it to the ordinary species. All the 
Woodchat Shrikes we have seen from Senegal are in full winter plumage; for, although we have 
not found any published notice of the fact, it is quite certain that the Woodchat Shrike puts on 
a winter dress; and remains of this garb are to be seen on specimens shot in Europe in the spring 
of the year, in the shape of narrow fulvous edgings to the plumage. 
Dr. von Heuglin (Orn. N.-O. Afr. p. 474) says:—“'The Woodchat Shrike comes into our 
limits during the migration from August to April, has been observed as far south as 50° S. lat., 
also both in the Nile district, Arabia, and on the islands of the Red Sea. To some extent it may 
be a resident in the tropics.” 
Mr. C. W. Wyatt also writes to us as follows :— 
“¢T once shot one in Sinai, at W. Feiran, March Ist. I never saw the bird before or since; 
and it must have been, I think, an accidental visitor, and may have wandered up from the Ghor, 
where I remember seeing it seven or eight years ago.” 
The present species varies in size. Thus Mr. Gould (B. of Gr. Br. part 2) says that speci- 
mens from Tangiers are smaller than others in his collection from Eastern Europe; but we find 
slight variations in size in specimens from the same localities, and examples from Algeria are 
identical with others from Holland and Egypt, with which we have compared them. 
According to Degland and Gerbe, it inhabits all the temperate and southern part of France, 
is common in Lorraine, near Montpellier, in Provence, the high and low Pyrenees, and is not 
rare near Lille, where it breeds. 
Lord Lilford informs us that it is the common Shrike of Southern and Central Spain; and 
Dresser observed it often near Madrid. Along the whole of the Mediterranean it is a common 
summer resident; and Salvadori remarks that it is the first Shrike to arrive in Sardinia. 
In a recent letter the latter gentleman also writes:—‘‘'This bird is very common in Italy 
during the whole summer. It is to be found everywhere except in mountainous districts. ‘They 
generally build their nests on high trees. They feed on insects, especially on grasshoppers. In 
autumn they are very fat, and much esteemed for the table. For that purpose they are taken 
either in snares or on limed twigs with a grasshopper as a bait.” 
In Southern Austria and Styria Dresser found it not uncommon in the month of April, and 
was told that it bred in the latter place. 
Lindermayer (Orn. Griech. p. 114) says that “in Greece the Woodchat comes with JL. 
collurio from the south. Many pairs remain to breed; but most go further north.” 
Von der Mihle (Orn. Griech. p. 78) also observes that it is “not uncommon in the higher 
regions of Greece, as, for instance, Tripolitza, where it is found everywhere on the black-thorn 
bushes, and where it often breeds.” 
Mr. Robson, of Ortakeny, writes to us as follows :— 
“This species inhabits Turkey in Europe and Asia Minor, a few specimens being shot during 
the spring and autumn migrations. ‘They are a scarce bird with us; and only a part of their 
number stay over the summer and remain to breed. They prefer light copse-wooded districts, 
and feed on beetles, sitting long on a bush or low tree watching for the latter, which they seize 
on the wing and on the ground. They are shyer than the ordinary Shrikes, and keep more 
in covert.” 
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