INSESSORES. 
Dentirostres. 
L LANIAD^. 
THE GREAT GREY SHRIKE. 
Lanins excubitor. 
It is perhaps owing to the comparative scarcity of observers, 
that the Great Grey Shrike, so long known as an occasional 
though rare visitor to Orkney, was not recognised as occurring 
in Shetland until the winter of 1870, when I met with it by 
mere accident. On the 26th of December in that year, as I 
was standing on the beach at Balta Sound, loading my gun, 
a Grey Shrike came flying across the voe in a southerly direc- 
tion, and, passing within ten yards of me, continued its course 
until lost to sight against the neighbouring hills. It flew 
heavily, as if wearied with a long journey, and kept very low, 
even when crossing the water. The wind was blowing mode- 
rately from K.E. at the time, and the ground was covered with 
snow. 
The apparent want of a second bar upon the 'wing in certain 
specimens, and the consequent attempt to assign them to 
another species, has now led to a thorough investigation and 
explanation of the error by Messrs Dresser and Sharpe, in the 
“ Birds of Europe.” As long ago as 1854, I had the pleasure 
of sending to Mr Yarrell the wings of several Grey Shrikes 
procured in Belgium, at the same time pointing out that 
although the base of the secondaries was white, it was often 
entirely concealed in immature birds. This seems to have 
been completely overlooked by IMacgillivray, who, considering 
