THE MASKED SHRIKE. 



Lanius nubicus, Lichtenstein. 

 Plate 13. 



A specimen of the Masked Shrike was obtained in Kent in July 1905. This is 

 a summer visitor to South-eastern Europe, Asia Minor, and south-western Persia, 

 wintering in Africa, to the eastward of Tripoli, and in Arabia. 



It builds a compact and neatly-made nest of roots and grasses, lined with finer 

 materials, which contains four to seven eggs, in ground colour dull olive-green, 

 spotted with brown. 



The Masked Shrike is insectivorous, feeding mostly on beetles, and is shy in 

 its habits, keeping to the thick cover of bushes. 

 It is said to have a pleasant song. 



The female resembles the male, but has the dark parts browner in colour. 



I. 



89 



M 



