THE GREAT, OR ASH-COLOURED SHRIKE. 59 
are yet recorded ; * its summer visits, indeed, 
appear accidental, and have only been observed 
once or twice. Its range of geographical distri- 
bution seems confined to Europe, or if it does pass 
the Asiatic boundary, it is soon lost, to give way 
to some other species which may represent it, 
within a limit of its own. In the northern parts 
of the new world, again, its place is filled by seve- 
ral species so closely allied, that they were long 
considered identical. In Europe, it extends as 
far north as Lapland and Sweden, and parts of 
Russia, but its stronghold, or metropolis, may be 
viewed as the midlands and south of France, where 
it breeds, devaricating on each side in varied pro- 
portions. Their principal haunts are the well- 
wooded but enclosed countries, the parks, and 
enclosed forests. According to Temminck, they 
build on trees and lower brushwood ; while Mr 
Hewitson says, “ that it builds its nest in thick 
bushes and high hedges ; it is composed of umbel- 
liferous plants, roots, moss, and wool, lined with 
finer roots and dried grass.” The eggs are from 
five to seven in number, they are of a blueish or 
greyish white, spotted, and blotched over with 
brown or purpleish grey.f 
* “ I have seen it in Wiltshire, and have no doubt of 
its breeding there,” are the words of Lewin.5 He had not, 
however, actually observed the act in question. 
f Hewitson, Oology, pi. cviit. 
§ Birds of Britain, i. p. 70. 
