LANIUS NUBICUS. 
(MASKED SHRIKE.) 
Lanius nubicus, Licht. Verz. Doubl. p. 47 (1823). 
Leucometopon nubicus, Bonap. Rev. et Mag. de Zool. 1853, p. 438. 
Enneoctonus nubicus, Cab. & Heine, Mus. Hein. Th. i. p. 73 (1850). 
Lanius personatus, Temm. Pl. Col. 256. f. 2 (1824). 
Lanius leucometopon, Von der Miihle, Orn. Griechenl. p. 78 (1844). 
Mas supra niger: macula parva anteoculari cum genis brunnescenti-nigris: fronte et superciliis scapulari- 
busque pure albis : tectricibus alarum superioribus nigris anguste cinereo marginatis, minoribus cinereis : 
remigibus nigris, ad basin albis, fasciam latam formantibus: rectricibus nigris, duabus exterioribus 
albis scapis nigris, duabus proximis nigris versus apicem albis, tribus centralibus nigris: gutture et 
abdomine albis: pectore superiore et hypochondriis lete ferrugineis: subalaribus albis: rostro et pedibus 
nigricantibus: iride fusca. 
Juv. similis preecedenti sed fusco-nigricans, nec niger, capite paullo saturatiore. 
Adult. Forehead and a distinct eyebrow pure white; upper surface of the body glossy black, very slightly 
inclming to grey on the lower part of the back; scapulars white; wing-coverts black, narrowly edged 
with greyish, the least coverts decidedly grey; quills blackish, the primaries white at the base, very 
broad on the outer web, forming a large alar bar, the secondaries also narrowly tipped with white; tail 
black, the two outer feathers white with black shafts, the next two black, all except the tips, which arc 
white; throat, abdomen, and under wing- and tail-coverts white; the upper part of the breast and 
sides of the body rich ferruginous ; bill and feet blackish; iris dusky brown. ‘Total length 6:9 inches, 
culmen 0°6, wing 3°5, tail 3:3, tarsus 0°85. 
Young. Similar to the adult, but grey where the latter is black, the eyebrow rather more pronounced, and 
with scarcely any white on the tail-feathers. 
Tue Masked Shrike is undoubtedly a southern species, occurring only in South-eastern Europe. 
Here it is migratory, arriving in the late spring, remaining to breed, and leaving early in the 
autumn. It appears to pass the winter months in North-eastern, Africa. 
Mr. Robson, of Ortakeuy, Turkey, informs us that “the Masked Shrike is very scarce in 
Turkey in Europe and Asia Minor, and is only seen at intervals during migration. Like the 
Woodchat, they are partial to the open country, perch on low trees and bushes, preferring those 
which are covered with creepers, into which they can pop at the least approach of danger, and 
remain until it has passed, when they reappear. ‘They are shy and very wary.” 
In the autumn Captain Sperling found it common in Syria; and Dr. Tristram found it 
abundant in Palestine during the summer season. Mr. E. C. Taylor writes as follows :—“ TI first 
saw this species in Upper Egypt about the end of February, when it had probably just arrived. 
It afterwards became very abundant, and was generally in pairs, but I do not think that it had 
begun to breed by the end of March.” In Abyssinia, says Mr. Blanford, the Masked Shrike 
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