LANIIDAE—SHRIKES.
105
species, the Lesser Grey Shrike (L. Minor), which has on several
occasions been detected in Britain.
Mr. C. H. B. Croxon, of Reddings, Tillingham, has an example, shot at the
Glebe Decoy, Bradwell, a few years back, and Mr. Robert Page, of Down Hall,
Bradwell, has another which was observed to fall from one of the bushes round his
decoy at Tillingham as though in a fit, early in January of the present year.
[Southern Grey Shrike : lanius meridionalis.
Dr. Bree (34. 4721 & 29. Nov. 13) records a male, shot within a few
miles of Colchester during the first week of November, 1875. It had a
shrew in its stomach. This, he says, was the first British specimen.
He describes it fully, stating that it was 101/4 in. in length, and had the
four central tail-feathers black, though one is slightly tipped with white.
It appears from Dr. Bree's notes (32a) that it was "shot at Dedham
the last week in Oct., 1875." It is strange that Dr. Bree should not
have entered further particulars, as this species has never otherwise
been observed in Britain, either before or since, and the specimen would
therefore have been of great interest. As Dr. Bree (so far as I know)
never afterwards alluded to it in print, it seems probable that he subse-
quently discovered his identification of the specimen to be erroneous,
though I am not aware that he ever corrected his record of it. I have
enquired carefully of Mrs. Bree and others without being able to ascer-
tain that the specimen still exists. It is impossible, therefore, to accept
the record as authentic]
Redbacked Shrike: Lanius collurio. Locally, " Butcher-
bird."
A common summer visitor, usually arriving about the first week
in May, and departing again late in August. It varies considerably
in number in different
years, and it appears to
be decreasing with us.
Mr. Joseph Clarke says,
in 1845, that this species
was " formerly not common
[round Saffron Walden] but
latterly more so" (24).
Henry Doubleday, in 1831,
says (10) that it was then
very common in Epping
Forest, though, in the spring
of 1834, he notes it (10) as
" less abundant than usual."
Mr. Buxton says (47.83) that
" they breed in the neigh-
bourhood [of Epping Forest]
frequently, if not every
year." King describes it
(20) as "common" round
Sudbury. In the Birdbrook
district it is common, but
at Maldon somewhat rarer
(Fitch). Mr. Hope writes :