310 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



of large pastures. I was almost as much struck with the lowness of the 

 nest as the exposed position in which it was placed. — J. Whitaker 

 (Rainworth, Notts). 



Montagu's Harrier breeding in Sussex.— Mr. Pratt, of Brighton, has 

 a female specimen of this rare bird. It was shot at Patcham, near Brighton, 

 on June 17th, among sand-heaps and fern. When picked up a lark's egg 

 was found in its throat, with which perhaps it may have been about to feed 

 its young. The plumage showed that the bird had been brooding, the 

 under parts being in places denuded of feathers. — H. D. Gordon (Harting 

 Vicarage, Petersfield). 



[What a shame to have killed this bird in June, just at a time when it 

 probably had young to provide for! The species is always sufficiently 

 rare to stand in need of all the protection that can be given to it. — Ed.] 



On Lanius excubitor and Lanius major. — There can be little doubt 

 that Mr. Aplin is wise in suggesting the advisability of more criticism 

 being desirable towards the solution of ornithological enigmas through the 

 press. But whether the vexed question of the specific or non-specific 

 character of Lanius excubitor with one white wing-spot can be determined 

 thereby is a little questionable. Whilst anxious for further knowledge in 

 this matter myself, I am conscious that a few facts are worth many theories 

 in scientific questions, and propose therefore simply to note, for the benefit 

 of those interested in these most attractive birds, a few observations which 

 have been based upon specimens of my own : — (1). As a rule, Grey Shrikes 

 (if adult), having two wing-spots, have pale grey rumps and upper tail, 

 coverts. An exception to this rule, however, is at hand in a very old bird 

 from Saxony. (2). In Grey Shrikes with only one wing-spot, i. e. with no 

 white on the secondaries, the general coloration above is decidedly darker 

 than is the case in typical L. excubitor, including the rump and upper tail- 

 coverts; and the writer certainly has no recollection of having seen a 

 specimen with a white rump. (3). In all the specimens of L. major examined, 

 some degree of vermiculation beneath may be observed, except in a specimen 

 from the Volga, which, however, from its more strongly hooked bill and 

 somewhat paler general colouring, might be a hybrid with L. homeyeri. 

 4. In the young of both forms of the Grey Shrikes, the under surface of 

 the body seems always to be more or less vermiculated. A very young 

 bird, labelled L. homeyeri, has a perfectly plain under surface, i.e. without 

 any cross-barring whatever. It would be exceedingly interesting to discover 

 in what proportion the two forms known as excubitor and major are met 

 with in England. Probably they might be put down at about half-and-half, 

 but, as this is largely guesswork, it cannot be worth much. For further 

 elucidation of this important point, it would be a great assistance if those 

 who record the occurrence of Grey Shrikes in ■ The Zoologist,' or elsewhere, 



