LESSER GREY SHRIKE.
Lanius minor, GMELIN. Lanius—A butcher. Minor—Lesser.

In Europe this germane species has occurred, though nowhere it would appear at all numerously, in Germany, Holland, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, and Spain. In Asia, in Palestine, Asia Minor, Russia, Caucasia, and Persia. In Africa, in Egypt, Damaraland, and other parts.
In our own country their visits have been but ' few and far between.' A specimen was shot on St. Mary's, one of the Scilly Islands, the beginning of November, 1851; another near Yarmouth, in Norfolk, in the spring of 1869, and a third in May, 1875. One also taken near Plymouth, a young bird, in September, 1876.
It is a migratory bird, visiting Europe early in spring, and departing late in autumn.
It attacks and drives off crows and other birds that approach its haunt.
It makes its food of small animals and birds, but chiefly, it is said, of insects, and also more or less on fruits such as cherries, figs, and mulberries.
It flies in a straight and steady manner, and often alights on the ground, either on a stone or a hillock, retreating to cover when disturbed.
The nest is large and is made of stems of clover and grass, with small sticks, wool, etc, and lined with feathers.
The eggs, from five to seven in number, are white, with a tinge of green or olive, marked with blots, larger and smaller, of a darkish olive and grey colours. Some have a reddish tint both in the ground colour and in the darker markings.
In the male bird the bill is dark bluish grey, nearly black, a broad black band passes from the forehead over and below the eyes, and some way behind them; the head, neck, and back are grey, darker in the middle part. The chin, throat, and neck on the sides are white; the breast and sides white, with a tinge of rose colour fading into grey. The wing coverts, brownish black inclining to grey in front.
Primaries, brownish black with a broad white band; secondaries, brownish black, some of them tipped more or less with white. Under wing coverts, blackish grey. The tail has the four middle feathers black, the next on each side, black with white at the base and tip; the next with more white, and the outermost ones, which are much shorter than the rest, entirely white; the legs, toes, and claws, black.

"The May Fly is torn by the Swallow,
The Sparrow is speared by the Shrike."
LORD TENNYSON.—Maud.