LANIIDAE—SHRIKES.
103
small boy myself at the time, and did not hear of the occurrence till many years
afterwards. But it was well known to all my wife's family at the time, and I have
heard it constantly spoken of by them ever since. They never appeared to have
returned in later years. This rare occurrence has never been recorded in any work
on Natural History, so I think it is well worthy of insertion in these notes.'
Family LANIIDAE.
Great Grey Shrike : Lanius excubitor.
An occasional visitor met with in Essex in most years from
autumn to spring, and very exceptionally during summer. Records
given below, to which Yarrell, More, Hoy and other good
observers apparently give credence, speak of its having been seen
in Essex during summer, and a specimen was seen by a trustworthy
observer near Kelvedon in May last, but it is not known with certainty
to have nested in Britain.
Henry Doubleday, writing in 1831, says that he had never seen more than one
in Epping Forest, but he afterwards heard of a female, shot about six miles from
the town, early in March, 1845 (10). He also writes (23. 40) :
" An individual of this species which I had in confinement for a long time, in-
variably hung its food round the cage. If half-a-dozen birds were put in, it hung
them all up by forcing their heads between the wires of the cage, and pieces of
meat were also fastened up. I never saw the Red-backed Shrike impale insects,
nor do I recollect ever to have found any impaled here, although the bird is not
at all uncommon.''
Edward Doubleday, in 1835, mentions (15) its having been killed at Harlow.
Mr. Parsons says (11) it was " rarely seen " in Rochford Hundred in his day.
Hoy records (18. i. 117) one "caught in a common trap-cage set for small birds
in a garden on the outskirts of Colchester in February, 1836." Mr, Clarke says
(24) in his notes, that round Saffron Walden " generally two or three are killed
every season, during the winter." From this it appears to have been of more
frequent occurrence then than now. Mr. Clarke specially mentions one shot by
Mr. Salmon at Wendon in 1827, a female shot by a Mr. Master in Burton Wood
Saffron Walden, in Nov., 1843, a female shot at Thaxted on Dec. 15th, 1844, a
male (now in the Audley End Collection) shot at Saffron Walden on Mar. 3rd
1854, and a female shot at Shortgrove Park on Apr. 5th, 1854. A male was
killed at Loughton on Apr. 12th, 1858 (23. 6096), and another (23. 8325) on Oct
28th, 1862, in a garden adjacent to Leyton Marsh. Mr. Kerry records (34. 4827)
a male in full plumage shot at Ramsey on Nov. 9th, 1875, and he himself shot
one near Harwich on Dec. 6th, 1879 (40. iv. p. 70). A female was shot at
Clavering on Nov, 12th, 1880, by Mr. H. Rolfe (44. i. lxiii). A female was shot at
Willingale on Nov. 1st, 1881 (Chelmsford Chronicle, Nov. 4). Mr. Scruby informs
me of one shot at Forest Hall, Ongar, and another at Beauchamp Roding about
thirty years ago. Mr. Pettitt, of Colchester, preserved one picked up dead close
to his shop, on Dec. 3rd, 1888, it having been killed by flying against the telegraph
wires. In 1882, one was shot near Thaxted about April 10th. Mr. J. A. Cooper of
Leytonstone records one (29. Oct. 25) captured on Oct. 8th, 1884, near Epping, by
a bird-catcher netting small birds. One was shot near Elmdon by Mr. Nottage, of
Jan. 7th, 1885, and another at Thaxted on Nov. 10th, 1886. Mr. John Smith of