The nest is a large and loose structure of twigs, roots, and moss; it is lined with hair and wool, and placed about eight or ten feet from the ground in a thick hawthorn hedge. The eggs are usually of a pale green colour, with a zone or band of olive brown mottlings round the larger end. In some districts a variety is found in which the ground colour is pinkish and the markings reddish brown. The Shrike has no song, but makes a great variety of harsh noises and chucklings as it sits on its post of vantage, bending down and flirting his tail at the same time. The call-note is a harsh “chack.” Like the Swift, Cuckoo, and several other species, he does not stay with us long, but having reared his brood, the whole family wander south, and soon leave our shores.
The adult male has the crown, nape, and upper tail coverts grey; frontal band, lores, and ear coverts black; back chestnut; tail feathers black, all except the central pair with white bases; under parts rose buff.
The female has the upper parts brown, mantle rufous, with small narrow black crescentic bars on the feathers; under parts greyish white barred like the mantle. The young bird resembles the female, but is more barred. Length 7 in.; wing 3·7 in.
THE WOODCHAT
Lanius pomeranus, Sparrman
Single examples of this species have from time to time visited the southern and eastern counties of England during migration, and possibly they may have nested on one or two occasions. It is a common and abundant breeding species in Southern and Central Europe, from whence it migrates in winter to tropical Africa.
The forehead, lores, ear coverts, and sides of the neck and back are black; crown of the head chestnut; scapulars white; wings blackish, primaries with white bases, secondaries and coverts tipped with white; and upper tail coverts grey turning to whitish; tail feathers black tipped with white; under parts whitish. The female is duller and tinged with rufous on the upper parts. Length 7·1 in.; wing 3·8 in.
THE MASKED SHRIKE
Lanius nubicus, Licht.
This is a south-eastern species, one example of which was shot in Kent in July 1905.
It is a rather smaller bird than any of our other Shrikes. The upper parts are chiefly black; scapulars, speculum, and a band across the forehead white. Chin, throat, and under tail coverts white; flanks and breast ferruginous. Length 6·8 in.; wing 3·5 in.