WOODCHAT SHRIKE.— SPOTTED FLYCATCHER. 39 



of at least three diflPerent species, though those in the same 

 nest are always similar. Several gamekeepers have told me 

 that they have shot this bird in the act of drawing out young 

 partridges and young pheasants from the coops. 



WOODCHAT SHRIKE. 



Lanius auriculatus. 



This species is exceedingly rare in Sussex, and indeed in 

 Britain. 



I have met with only one specimen myself, of which I 

 find the following note :—" On the 11th of May, 1866, 1 saw, 

 at Mr. Pratt's shop in Brighton, a beautiful specimen of 

 Lanius auriculatus in the flesh, which he told me had been 

 shot at Preston, near that town, on that same morning, by 

 one of his sons. It was in the fullest plumage of the adult 

 male. The stomach contained portions of beetles and other 

 insects. This is no doubt the specimen which is mentioned 

 in Yarrell's 'British Birds' (vol. i. p. 216), as also in the 

 'Zoologist' (p. 266, s. s.). This species is not included by 

 Mr. Knox in his list." 



MUSCICAPID^. 



SPOTTED FLYCATCHER. 



Muscicapa grisola. 



This bird generally arrives in the county about the 4th of 

 May, and very commonly returns year after year to an 



